A Tatlock man, 64, was able to make it out safely after a house fire Thursday morning, Feb. 6. He ran to a neighbour’s house, which is where 911 was called.
At 7:56 a.m. all four stations of the Lanark Highlands Fire Department were dispatched to Concession Road 7 Darling, near Sadler Lane, for a reported structure fire.
“Upon arrival on scene, there was light smoke showing from the eaves on all sides and flames showing near the chimney,” Fire Chief Stephen Rothwell said.
He requested mutual aid from the Mississippi Mills Fire Department by way of two tankers.
In rural locations, the use of tankers and portable tanks is essential. Tankers transport water from a water source to the scene and portable tanks provide temporary storage areas for the water hauled to the fire.
“Both tankers were released shortly after their arrival,” Rothwell noted.
The homeowner was assessed by the Lanark County Paramedic Service, and he was not taken to hospital.
“He needed a bandage for a cut on his head,” a neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told Inside Ottawa Valley.
Rothwell stated the fire was contained to the living room area, but the resident has been displaced.
Approximately 30 firefighters attended the scene.
“Crews arrived on location at 8:03 a.m., and they had agent applied within four minutes,” the fire chief communicated.
By 9:36 a.m. the fire was under control, and all crews cleared the scene by 11:20 a.m.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Rothwell said.
He reminded all residents about the importance of having “working smoke alarms that are less than 10 years old, a home escape plan and annual inspection of home heating and venting systems to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently.”
The neighbour who assisted the homeowner offered “kudos to our fire services and each one of our firefighters,” and she pointed out, “rural fire departments always need more firefighters, and people can sign up to help save lives.”