North Bay Fire and Emergency Services, along with Police and EMS responded to a structure fire call around midnight last night at a home in the 600 block of Lorne Ave, located in the north end of the city.
The fire department is crediting working smoke alarms with providing early notification of the fire last night, which allowed the tenants and their pet in the basement apartment to safely evacuate and call for fire services.
Jason Whiteley, North Bay's Fire Chief, estimates the fire crew response time was just over four minutes.
Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy fire conditions in the main floor apartment, with the fire already extended into the attic space. Crews immediately began an interior attack and searched the entire residence to ensure everyone was out. North Bay EMS assessed the evacuated tenants for smoke inhalation; no one was taken to the hospital.
Fire Prevention is currently investigating the origin and cause of the fire, and no dollar loss has been determined yet.
Fire Chief Jason Whiteley says a working smoke alarm gives people a chance.
"It gives you a chance to wake up, a chance to run and a chance to live," he said.
He suggests that smoke alarms should be installed on every storey and outside of all sleeping areas, as it is the law.
He says they should be tested monthly.
North Bay Fire also wants to remind people to prevent fires.
They suggest you do not overload extension cords by plugging in too many or too-powerful devices; instead, check the cord's wattage rating and the appliance's needs, using a separate cord for each significant appliance. Avoid daisy-chaining cords by plugging power strips into each other, and never place cords under rugs or through walls, which can trap heat and cause fires. Instead, use proper, certified cords, keep them dry, and use them only temporarily, contacting an electrician for permanent wiring needs.