Butlerville ghosts busted

A popular Halloween attraction in Butlerville has been shut down because of fire safety concerns.

Hayward Butler received the chilling news last Thursday Oct. 29 that his annual Haunted House had to be demolished.

"Dumbfounded and shocked is the only way to describe how I feel," says Butler. "It's really sad. A lot of work went into the house and many kids are going to be really disappointed. It was something they looked forward to on an annual basis."

Butler says he and a crew of 25 volunteers have been busy since August setting the scene for the haunted house/crazy hospital in his backyard. The 150-foot structure was constructed mainly of tarpaulin and wood. Last year over 1,600 people, mostly children, were brave enough to take the tour.

Butler says he didn't have a clue anything was wrong with the Haunted House until Tuesday, Oct. 20 when Bay Roberts Fire Chief Clarence Russell showed up at his house, with a letter from the Fire Commissioner's Office, stating the building didn't meet the proper fire codes.

"He (fire chief) said he had a complaint from a resident in the area and because of it we couldn't go ahead with the haunted house this year," says Butler.

The letter, written by fire protection officer Greg Lynch of the Fire Commissioner's Office in Stephenville on Oct. 20, stated:

"This structure cannot, under any circumstances be used as a place of public assembly. It is completely deficient from a point of view of flame spread, fire resistance, mean of egress, lighting, early notification and structural stability. This occupancy shall be closed to the public immediately."

Butler says he immediately contacted the Fire Commissioner's Office and asked what he needed to do to be able to use the building. Then he went to work putting together a floor plan and did everything possible to bring the haunted house up to the national fire safety code and ensure public safety.

He says he also filled out several applications and sent the information to the Government Service Centre for them to review and approve. He also pled his case to numerous other municipal and government officials including mp Scott Andrews office and MHA Roland Butler.

Support

Last Tuesday night Oct. 27 Butler and a group of haunted house volunteers showed up at the Bay Roberts Town Council meeting.

"We want you to have your haunted house, we support your fund-raiser, but the issue is out of our hands," Mayor Glenn Littlejohn told Butler and his crew.

"It isn't our decision to make, it lies with the Fire Commissioner's office. There is no way we can, or have the authority to override these kinds of recommendations."

On Wednesday, the day before Butler got the final word the Haunted House had to be demolished, one of the local schools in the area called to book a school tour.

"We had to turn them away," he says. "However residents and many people from outside the area have already been here."

Read more inn this week's Compass.