Neighbours of those displaced by a fire in Carleton Place offered shelter, coffee and doughnuts during a cold, early morning Tuesday, Dec. 3.
As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze at a multi-unit residential dwelling on Charlotte Street, occupants watched from across the street and were met with kindness.
For one, however, this was her second fire in four years.
“I often say, if I did not have bad luck, I would have no luck,” voiced Julie Georgison, who lives in a front unit, along with her kids and dog.
On March 20, 2021, Georgison’s residence on Crampton Drive caught fire. The blaze caused extensive damage to her home and two others.
“I lived in a motel for almost a year and then I got this place,” she noted.
The Carleton Place Fire Department was called to Tuesday’s fire at 4:05 a.m.
It spread from a trailer and tarp to the rear of the main dwelling, “going up the wall to the eaves and into the attic,” acting Fire Chief Dave Joy told Inside Ottawa Valley.
Fire departments in Mississippi Mills and Beckwith assisted, and a pumper truck from Drummond North Elmsley Tay Valley Fire Rescue Services (BBD&E station) was at the ready.
Lanark County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers were also there.
Patty Colby’s husband happened to be up early Tuesday and saw a vehicle with flashing lights go by their home on Charlotte Street.
“You could see a flare-up, but it was mainly smoke,” she indicated. “They were using a drone too.”
“Only one of the five units — the back unit — was affected,” Joy said.
Damage is pegged at $250,000 to $300,000.
Under investigation
The Carleton Place Fire Department released the scene to OPP at 9:15 a.m.
“Lanark County OPP is working with the Carleton Place Fire Department to determine the cause of the fire; however, it is still too early to know the full details,” OPP Sgt. Rob Croth commented.