West Nipissing firefighters continue to battle a blaze in Cache Bay that destroyed a two-storey home.
Fire Chief Richard Maranda told The Nugget 15 firefighters from Station One in Sturgeon Falls and Station Nine in Cache Bay responded to the Younge Street blaze at 2:30 a.m.
“When we arrived at the scene there was flames coming through the eaves of the home on the south-side of the dwelling. It was an older home built in the 1900s and it’s been completely destroyed. It’s a large loss,” he said Thursday.
“The fire got into the walls,” Maranda said. “The insulation was sawdust and there was no way to get at it. The fire eventually made its way through the attic.”
Maranda said the fire department has requested an excavator to completely extinguish the fire.
“The second storey is now on the first storey, but everyone is safe because of the working smoke alarms they had in their home.”
Maranda estimates the damage is around $200,000, however no cause has been determined at this time.
“There is a small garage attached to the home. We managed to empty quite a bit of it out like tools and other valuable items.”
Crews were relieved this morning by volunteer firefighters from Station Two in Crystal Falls and Station Six in Verner.
Maranda said in addition to battling the blaze firefighters are also struggling with the elements.
“There’s quite a bit of ice that has formed around the building,” he said. “Crews are just making sure they have a firm footing as they move around it.”
Link to original article in North Bay Nugget: Firefighters continue to battle Cache Bay blaze