Image: Danielle McCreadie
Fire crews in the Kennebecasis Valley battled two fires within just a few hours on Tuesday.
Chief Bill Ireland says firefighters were called to Bonnycastle Lane in Rothesay, just off Grove Avenue, shortly after 3 p.m.
“The call was reported to us by a passerby that had noticed the smoke and investigated,” said Ireland. “It was an off-duty Saint John firefighter who called it in.”
Ireland said the home, which was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, was a total loss. The homeowners were away at the time, he said.
About 90 minutes after crews cleared the scene, a second fire was reported on Gondola Point Road near Quispamsis Road around 8:30 p.m.
“Another extremely difficult situation with heavy wind coming off the river, pushing the smoke and the fire towards us,” said Ireland.
The home was extensively damaged and one homeowner suffered minor smoke inhalation, he said.
Ireland said Tuesday’s frigid temperatures and strong winds created challenges for firefighters at both scenes.
“With the sub-zero temperatures, we have issues with our hoses icing up, the overspray from our attack lines creating icy conditions on the ground,” he said. “We had a number of members slip and fall.”
“The wind itself really helps to accelerate the fire’s spread. The Gondola Point fire, in particular, was very difficult because the fire was on the river side of the property, being heavily fanned
Kennebecasis Valley fire crews received help from the Saint John, Simonds, Nauwigewauk and Hampton fire departments to battle the Gondola Point Road blaze.
The cause of both fires remains under investigation.
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