“Firefighters & police team up to rescue pets from a burning home in Torbrook Mines.”
Kingston firefighters got the call shortly before 4PM on Wednesday, June 25th, bringing in mutual aid from various departments across Kings & Annapolis Counties.
Kingston Fire Chief, Troy Bruce and an Annapolis District RCMP member were the first to arrive prior to any fire apparatus, noting heavy fire involvement from the roof of a two-storey home.
“Upon arrival, the roof was totally engulfed in flames and was working its way down to the second story level. The main story level was clear. We had a report of animals inside. Myself and RCMP arrived at the same time. The door was unlocked and we both went in. I managed to get a dog out and the RCMP member got a cat out.” stated Chief Bruce.
Neighbours were also able to confirm these reports that no one was home and that there were animals in the residence, aiding in the quick action of the rescue.
With construction on Bridge Street, volunteers struggled to get to the fire station in a timely fashion, delaying response times.
On the arrival of the first due apparatus, fire crews made an interior fire attack and also managed to locate an additional pet inside, rescuing another dog and knocking some of the fire before conditions forced crews to exit.
Mutual aid was brought in from Middleton, Nictaux, Aylesford & Lawrencetown Fire Departments, bringing additional manpower and tankers as crews battled the fire in 30 plus temperatures.
Due to the construction of the home and the roof collapsing in on the second story, fighting the fire was becoming challenging.
Kingstons ladder truck arrived and was set up to attack the fire from above. With rural areas and hydrants not available, water supply can be challenging for fires of this size. With the dry conditions and a shortage in water supplies, lengthy waits for water made attacking the fire even more difficult.
When the deck gun on an aerial device is being used, you flow a significant volume of water quickly. The closest water source was roughly 7 minutes away, taking over 15 minutes for tankers to shuttle to and from the fire scene, depleting water quickly.
Firefighters remained on scene for multiple hours, working to extinguish the fire.
There were no reported injuries and no one was home at the time. Despite the efforts of firefighters and the police, two pets were unable to be rescued from the home.
The Nova Scotia Office of the Fire Marshal was contacted, and the fire is not being considered as suspicious. Due to the amount of damage, the house is considered a total loss and the cause is being classified as undetermined.
Nova Scotia Power, Annapolis District RCMP & EHS Paramedics all attended the scene. There was an excavator also brought in but not used.
Berwick & Margaretsville Fire Departments provided standby coverage at the Kingston Fire Hall while crews worked on scene.
“Our firefighters worked well under the conditions we faced. It’s never easy dealing with these types of fires when they’re 20 feet on a roof.” stated Chief Bruce.
Great work to all involved under such difficult conditions, from fire involvement, pet rescues, heat and water shortages.
⚠️ Please Note: There is a Go Fund Me Page set up for the homeowners. I have confirmed directly with the owners of the home that this is legitimate.
The link can be sourced below ⬇️
Adrian J.
