The May holiday weekend was anything but for the Pembroke Fire Department as firefighters battled two separate fires on Sunday, May 19.
Basement Fire on Everett Street displaces two
First up was a basement fire at an Everett Street home that displaced two residents.
The Pembroke Fire Department (PFD) was alerted to a fire alarm activation on Everett Street on May 19 at 4:30 a.m. Prior to response, an update was received indicating a possible basement fire. The fire department responded with one pumper truck and the duty crew.
According to Pembroke Fire Chief Scott Selle, the fire was quickly brought under control by the responding firefighters with minimal damage contained to the basement, however the two people who lived in the home have been displaced.
There were no injuries.
Red Cross and Victim Services were contacted to provide support to the affected residents.
Officers with the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) attended the scene as well, providing support to Pembroke Fire Department.
The PFD and the OPP are continuing an investigation into cause and origin of the fire.
Quick response prevents fire spread
Later on the same day, firefighters responded to a porch fire at a Hunter Street resident at 5:15 p.m. The fire department answered the call with one pumper truck and the duty crew.
Selle said the fire was quickly brought under control by the responding personnel, with damage contained to the porch. The fire and smoke did not extend into the home.
The Pembroke Fire Department reported there were no injuries, and the occupants of the home were not displaced.
In a press release, the Pembroke Fire Department said it was important for people to remember to properly discard smoking materials.
“Please use a deep ashtray or a metal can and do not throw butts into gardens, or areas where the grass or vegetation may have dried out. These areas can easily catch fire and spread quickly, like what occurred during [this incident],” the fire chief said in the release.