Four people and two dogs are homeless, but safe after a house fire on Greenwood Road in Laurentian Valley Township on the afternoon of Feb. 5.
All four people and the dogs were home when the fire was discovered in the basement sometime after 3 p.m. and all escaped the smoldering structure.
Laurentain Valley Fire Chief Tim Sutcliffe said 16 firefighters and all of the department’s vehicles consisting of one pumper, two tankers and the rescue unit, all responded to the home which was located near the Quebec turn off.
Sutcliffe explained the home was filled with smoke upon arrival and while firefighters located flames quickly in the basement and got water on them, the fire had gotten in behind spray foam insulation, and into the ridge boards, resulting in heavy smoke throughout the structure, and billowing out of the eaves, windows and doors. The fire continued to smolder and smoke in difficult to reach places while the firefighters dumped water on it for several hours.
A Hydro One crew was called in quickly to disconnect power to the home and officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachment directed traffic on Greenwood Road by the fire scene which had been reduced down to one lane. Paramedics with the Renfrew County Paramedic Service were on station nearby in case called upon. Greenwood Road reopened and the fire was considered out around 7 p.m.
Sutcliffe said the house was heavily smoke damaged and is unsalvagable.
The Red Cross is assisting the four people displaced and is putting them up in a local hotel for three days.