Video of remains of home click HERE
A Cramahe family is trying to cope with the loss after their home burned to the ground on Sunday, August 18, 2019.
Cramahe Township Fire Department got the call shortly after 11 p.m. to the home on Victoria Beach Road. They responded immediately, but the 50-year-old red cedar home had burned to the ground before they arrived.
When crews arrived what was left of the home was engulfed in flames along with a pickup and car.
Firefighters used extreme caution with a large propane tank that was used to heat the home was venting flames.
Doug Littleford (age 66), his wife Nancy Hall and her adult son Matthew were inside the home at the time of the fire, but thankfully they made it out safely.
Although the family has insurance, they’ve lost everything they own.
“We have no where to live tonight,” said Littleford speaking to Today’s Northumberland on Monday afternoon.
“We have no clothes, no cars.”
They literally escaped with what they were wearing.
The home was entirely made of red cedar wood which may have intensified the flames.
Littleford, Hall and her son came from Pickering and moved into the home 16-years ago to help take care of Nancy’s mother who passed away in December 2018.
The family had two cats and a dog. One cat and a dog made it out of the house, but they believe the other cat perished in the blaze.
“There was so much damage they are having a hard time finding out the source,” said Littleford overlooking what was left of the home.
“It was in the kitchen – we know that much.”
Littleford said if he was in the home 10 seconds more, he doubts he would have escaped the flames.
Littleford was sleeping in the bedroom while his Hall fell asleep watching television on the couch. Nancy’s son, was also asleep in his room.
“I heard somebody scream “fire.”
“I jumped up, opened my bedroom door and thought, “get the hell out of here.”
Littleford left the home in his underwear and t-shirt. No shoes, no socks and no wallet.
With the deafening sound of the fire raging in the kitchen, Littleford said he didn’t hear the smoke alarm.
“It was so noisy because of the roar. You wouldn’t believe it. It was like a train coming through the house.”
Hall, suffered burns to her feet from the linoleum floor in the kitchen.
“She was running in bare feet trying to find the cats and the dog.
“She ran in (to the kitchen) for a second to see if the cat was there.”
Hall was taken to hospital by Northumberland County Paramedics where she was treated for smoke inhalation and burns to her feet and released on Monday morning.
At this time, the family is in need of clothing donations.
Damage is estimated at $400,000 to the home and the exact cause isn’t known.
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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
