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Firefighters face busy spring weekend

Firefighters take on a house fire, a garage fire and two chimney fires on the weekend
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Fire crews at a McKeown Avenue fire early Saturday morning. Photo submitted.

The North Bay Fire Department was very busy on the weekend as it battled four fires within the city. 

On Saturday morning around 4 a.m. firefighters responded to a house fire on McKeown Avenue.   

“Fortunately the occupant had working smoke alarms that alerted them to the danger and they were able to evacuate prior to our arrival,” stated Fire Chief Jason Whiteley. 

Whiteley says the cause of the fire is being treated as accidental and the investigation is focusing on a possible electrical failure. 

Damage is pegged at $100,000.

On Sunday morning firefighters had to contain a fire in a detached garage that was starting to extend into the home when they arrived on the scene around 8:30 a.m. 

“Crews immediately began a fire attack and did a search to ensure that there was no one inside the structure,’ said Whiteley.  

“The garage was in close proximity (2 ft) of a neighbouring garage and fire crews ensured that the fire did not extend to this structure.” 

Whiteley says the damage to structure and contents is being placed at $50,000. 

The cause of the fire is being treated as accidental and the investigation is focusing on the battery charger of the ATV.

Firefighters then were called to a pair of chimney fires, one on Copeland around 10:30 a.m. and another on Ski Club Road around 4 p.m. 

The Copeland chimney fire caused minimal damage as the homeowner took quick action to remove the heat source from the chimney.  

However, the Ski Club Road chimney fire was more serious. 

“Crews arrived to black smoke exiting the mortar of the chimney, crews investigated and confirmed there was fire in the chimney,” said Whiteley. 

“The fire crew quickly extinguished the fire and ensured the fire had not extended into the structure from the chimney.” 

No damage estimate to either chimney fire.  


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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