A family of four is homeless after fire consumed their home in Roseneath on January 22, 2019.
Alnwick/Haldimand Fire Department received the call at 9:07 a.m. to the address of 11971 on County Road 24 just east of County Road 45.
The home is approximately one kilometre from the firehall, but Alnwick/Haldimand Fire Chief Mark Diminie as soon as he left the hall, “we could see heavy smoke showing.”
Immediately Hamilton Township, Trent Hills Fire and Cramahe Fire Departments were called for manpower and tanker support. Northumberland County Paramedics were also called to the scene for standby.
Upon arrival there was heavy smoke throughout the building and fire at the rear of the home.
“We did initially have an interior attack, but because of the progression of the fire we had to pull those firefighters out and go to a defensive (exterior) attack.”
Diminie said because of the age of the home and other factors including six-inch tongue and groove board on top of lath and plaster on the inside and the outside there is a metal roof it was a hard fire to battle.
“It also has a lot of small areas where they get one area knocked down, and the firefighters go to another area and discover fire.
“It’s extremely hard to gain any access to the area. Anything we spray from the outside is bounce off the metal roof. The metal roof keeps the fire in, so it’s not burning through to give us any access points.”
Along with the stubborn fire, the extreme cold weather didn’t help.
With the amount of water being pour onto the fire, there were numerous firefighters that slipped on the ice.
“My biggest concern for the firefighters is now they are wet, and they are starting to cool down we have to keep an eye on them for hypothermia.”
Officials believe the fire was caused after the homeowner was thawing a frozen pipe in a main floor bathroom with a electric heat gun. The owner left the room momentarily and when they came back the room was quickly filling up with smoke.
The homeowner spoke to Today’s Northumberland and said they have been living in the home for 18 years and have been renovating the home. The kitchen area at the back of the home was completed just this past weekend.
Fire crews were on scene until 5 p.m. but will have a fire watch through the evening.
The home was totally destroyed with damage estimated at $300,000.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
