Firefighters and neighbours worked quickly to prevent a cottage fire from spreading to neighbouring property in Carden Township Tuesday afternoon (July 10).
Kawartha Lakes deputy fire Chief Terry Jones said the fire at the Lake Dalrymple Road property broke out in a ‘bunkie’ that contained a small living area shortly after 1 p.m. but quickly spread to the cottage.
The bunkie was about two feet from the cottage, Jones said.
Both structures were destroyed, and no one was home at the time.
Fire crews from five halls battled the blaze, with help from Ramara Township firefighters.
Jones said the buildings were fully engulfed when crews arrived and fire was brought under control in about an hour.
“Firefighters remained on scene until about 4:30 p.m.” he said.
Sabine Thomas contacted This Week to praise the firefighters. In an email she said, “It was inspiring the way the neighbourhood got together — hosing down the neighbouring gazebo and making sure that the dog in the house next door wasn't inside because the wind was blowing in that direction …”
Thomas said the Kirkfield firefighters “were there in record time” but that it was “scary how quickly” the fire spread.
In a Facebook post, Thomas said she and her husband were working on their deck when she heard “crackling” and someone calling to see if anyone had a cellphone.
Her husband, Al grabbed his phone and called 911 and the couple ran to the house. Al “kicked the door down and yelled inside to make sure no one was home.”
Jones said damage is estimated at $250,000 and the cause of the fire is under investigation, but not suspicious.
Link to original article in My Kawartha.com: Fire destroys cottage, bunkie in Carden Township