Staff at Chesley Lake Camp, near Sauble Beach, are doing what they can to keep the camp going after a fire on July 1 consumed the camp's main building, which housed their restaurant, a tuck shop and their main office.

South Bruce Peninsula Fire Department received the call at around 10:20 p.m. Saturday, several hours after the camp's community had been in the building celebrating Canada day and an hour after they had a fireworks display.

"Within about an hour of everyone dispersing from the fireworks display, things started to go awry," said Sheryl Plouffe, spokesperson for Chesley Lake Camp. "People started to notice that there was a fire that had started on the side of the building."

Daniel Robinson, manager of emergency services with South Bruce Peninsula Fire Department said they believe the fire started in the camp's garbage shed, next to the main building.

"It was an accidental fire," he said.

Plouffe said people were taking buckets of water from a nearby beach trying to douse the fire at its early stages, but had to retreat to a safer distance due to a large propane tank close by.

Robinson said part of their tactic was to protect the propane tank and keep it cool. It took fire crews five hours to get the building fire under control and didn't clear the scene until 9 a.m. Sunday.

Staff at the Chesley Lake Camp are not letting the fire disrupt camp operations. They have brought in a temporary office and are working on getting a temporary restaurant. (Sheryl Plouffe)

'This building represents our community'

For many camp residents the building, which had been on the site for 68 years, was a central part of the community.

"People were hugging each other, people were crying, people were supporting each other even in that moment of watching the building burn down because the building means so much more to the people here than just bricks and mortar," Plouffe said.

"This building represents our community and it's our gathering place and there are a lot of emotions tied up in that building and traditions."

But the fire won't stop the camp from operating. Staff have already been working on shuffling activities around bringing in a temporary restaurant and office.

"Already there are plans to rebuild," Plouffe said.