A Sunday morning fire caused minor damage to an apartment on King Street in Cobourg.
Fire crews were dispatched to a smoke alarm going off in a apartment unit at 1 King Street East at the corner of King Street and Division Street on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at approximately 11:40 a.m.
“One of the neighbours was over a few times knocking on the door, but didn’t get a response and decided to phone 9-1-1,” said Captain Scott MacDonald.
When fire crews arrived, although there was no smoke in the hallway, but when fire crews gained access to the apartment on the second floor, there was a heavy amount of smoke inside.
It was at that time, that a pull station setting off the alarm to the building was pulled by firefighters alerting other tenants to leave the building.
MacDonald said if a tenants comes across a smoke detector beeping and don’t get a response, phone 9-1-1 right away.
“Most fires start very small and how quickly items burn inside a building – it doesn’t take long small fire to get into something very huge.”
MacDonald also said if people hear an alarm going off inside a building, treat it like it’s a real fire.
“People get complacent. In their mind it’s just another false alarm so they don’t tend to leave.”
Firefighters went door to door in the building making sure the building was evacuated.
The fire had the potential of being much worse.
“There was a couch right beside the area, there was a chair right beside the area. A lot of loose papers. It did have the potential of getting a lot bigger.”
MacDonald said careless smoking may have been the cause of the fire that ignited a cat play structure.
Damage is estimated at $2,500 and there were no injuries.
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
