residential fire

Crews make quick work of house fire in Shea Heights

Firefighters with St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) made quick work of a minor house fire on Druken Crescent in Shea Heights late Tuesday night.

SJRFD Platoon Chief Mike Hall stated that a neighbour heard the smoke alarm sounding in the residence, and called 911. When crews arrived on the scene, shortly before 10:30 p.m., they found smoke inside the home and a fire just inside the door. Firefighters pulled an attack line and quickly brought the fire under control. A fan was used to clear smoke from the home.

There was no one home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The home sustained some localized fire damage, and some smoke damage throughout. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Fire damages centre-city home, displaces residents

A supper-hour fire in the centre of St. John’s damaged a home and displaced its residents on Tuesday.

Several 9-1-1 calls from neighbours were received at about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday evening alerting emergency crews to a fire on Mitchell Court. When firefighters arrived they found smoke coming from the home. Once entry was made into the home, crews discovered fire in the basement of the dwelling. Firefighters were able to quickly knock down the flames. No one was home at the time.

The home suffered fire damage in the immediate are of the fire, and some smoke damage throughout. The residents of the home have been displaced.

Traffic on Anderson Avenue was redirected as crews fought the fire.

Overnight fire in Mount Pearl causes extensive damage

An overnight fire on Jeffers Drive in Mount Pearl caused extensive damage to one home, and sent one person to hospital. Firefighters were called to the blaze at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

Mike Hall, Platoon Chief with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, stated they received multiple 911 calls alerting them to the fire. When crews arrived on scene the rear of the attached home was fully involved in fire.

Crews were able to quickly knock down most of the fire, however the home suffered extensive damage, both inside and out. The adjoining home also sustained fire damage to the exterior and some smoke damage inside.

Both residents of the house escaped the fire, with one of them reportedly being taken to hospital for treatment of minor smoke inhalation. Firefighters also removed a pet bird from the home.

Residents of the neighbouring home were also displaced by the fire. An investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing.

Family displaced after fire in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s

A family has been displaced following a late-afternoon fire in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s.

Crews with the Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Volunteer Fire Department were called to the scene, on Drukens Lane, at about 4:45 p.m. on Saturday. Chief Fred Hollett stated they were alerted to the fire by the homeowner, who found smoke coming from the dwelling upon their return. When firefighters arrived they found heavy fire inside the home.

Despite a quick knock-down of the flames, the home suffered significant fire damage. It was also noted the fire could have been much more destructive had the homeowner opened the front door.

There was no one inside the home at the time, and no injuries were reported. It took firefighters little over an hour to douse the flames and ensure no hot spots remained.

Arson suspect sought following early-evening fire

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) are looking for an individual suspected of arson following a fire on Bonaventure Avenue early Wednesday evening.

Shortly after 5:00 p.m. multiple calls were received by St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) alerting fire crews to a blaze behind a residence at the corner of Bonaventure Avenue and Harvey Road. When crews first arrived a few minutes later they found heavy fire and smoke coming from a back deck of the home. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the blaze under control, preventing its spread into the eave of the home. A small gazebo attached to the deck of the home was completely destroyed, while the home sustained mostly superficial damage.

Through their investigation, the RNC have determined the cause of the fire to be arson. Late Tuesday evening police released a photo, obtained through CCTV footage, of a person suspected of arson in relation to the blaze.

The RNC is asking anyone with information to contact them at 729-8000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477). You can also provide information anonymously on the NL Crime Stoppers website. The RNC have not yet confirmed if there is a connection to three previous fires that were also deemed suspicious in nature.

SJRFD Platoon Chief Mike Hall credited firefighters with being able to douse the flames, which could be seen from Signal Hill, before the home sustained substantial damage. Hall also recognized the home’s close proximity to Central Fire Station, less than half a kilometre away, as a contributing factor in the speedy knock-down.

The building, known as The Observatory, was built in the 1800’s. It survived the Great Fire of 1892, and was designated a heritage building in 1994.

Goulds home destroyed by fire

A home in Goulds was completely destroyed by fire late Sunday morning.

St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) first received a 911 call at about 10:20 a.m. from the resident of a home on Thistle Place, off Donovan’s Road in Goulds.  Several subsequent calls from area residents quickly followed, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky being visible from several kilometres away.

SJRFD Acting Platoon Chief Ed Sears said that when crews with the Goulds Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) first arrived on the scene eleven minutes later the two-storey wooden home was fully involved with fire. Flames were coming from all four sides of the structure, and also from the roof. All the residents of the home were able to escape the blaze. One of whom was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation, however it’s unknown if they were taken to hospital.

Given the heavy fire upon arrival, firefighters were forced to attack the inferno from outside.  Crews spent considerable time trying to protect two neighbouring homes from the heat of the blaze.  One adjacent home is reported to have suffered minor damage.

Because there are no fire hydrants in the area, firefighters had to draft water from nearby Second Pond and pump it to the fire scene.  Once a reliable water source was established crews used a master stream from atop an engine to finally douse the flames.  With large flankers and ash falling in the area, police closed Donovan’s Road in the immediate area to restrict access of curious onlookers and to allow crews space to work.

Firefighters were on the scene into the afternoon mopping up hot spots in the smouldering remains of the home.  The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is investigating.

Video from the scene of a fire that destroyed a home on Thistle Place in Goulds.

Fire causes serious damage to downtown apartment

An evening fire caused serious damage to one downtown apartment on Monday.

Emergency crews were called to the west end of Water Street at about 7:30 p.m. after a passerby noticed smoke coming from the second-storey window of a home. When firefighters arrived on scene they discovered fire in the bedroom of an upstairs apartment. No one was home at the time, and crews were able to quickly knock down the bulk of the fire.

An occupant of the downstairs apartment evacuated the residence as crews fought the blaze. The fire caused significant damage to the upstairs unit, while the downstairs apartment sustained some smoke and water damage.

Water Street was closed west of Leslie Street as personnel worked. After fighting the fire for a little over an hour the scene was left with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for investigation.

Video from the scene of a residential fire on Water Street.
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