A working smoke alarm saved a life this morning.
Firefighters attended a fire on Clarence Ave. that lead to two pets perishing, along with leaving the unit suffering from significant smoke damage.
That’s according to North Bay Fire and Emergency Services.
Greg Saunders, Deputy Chief, says just before 11 am, firefighters attended the structure fire in a three-story multi-residential apartment building.
“Upon arrival, heavy smoke could be seen coming from an apartment on the third floor of the structure,” says Saunders. “Firefighters from Station 1 and Station 2 entered the building, went up to the apartment, and made entry to the unit.”
Saunders says the firefighters dealt with very heavy smoke in the unit but pushed through and extinguished the fire.
“The place of origin of the fire has been determined to be a mattress in one of the bedrooms, the cause of the fire has yet to be determined,” says Saunders. “There was one tenant in the unit at the time of the fire. The tenant was alerted to the danger by a working smoke alarm and was able to safely evacuate the unit. […] The apartment unit suffered significant smoke damage. The great work by the firefighters significantly limited the damage caused by the fire.”
Saunders says two hamsters died in the fire, but a baby bird was saved by firefighter Mike Rowe.
“This incident is another example that properly located, properly maintained smoke alarms will provide residents with the time necessary to safely evacuate a residence from the danger posed by a fire in the home,” said Saunders. “Working smoke alarms save lives.”
