Firefighters battle blaze in Blenheim, three recent fires in Chatham

Cause undetermined after Blenheim blaze

(Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services)

Blenheim firefighters responded to a house fire at 9170 Old Street Line at 7:18 p.m. on Thursday, February 8.

Fire officials say on arrival crews found a well involved vacant farm house and worked quickly to bring the bulk of the fire under control and protect the surrounding swine barns containing livestock.

Additional fire resources were requested to assist with transporting water to the scene.

Due to the concerns over stability of the structure, the owner’s representative voluntarily provided an excavator to assist in extinguishing the deep seated fire.

No injuries to report.

The cause is undetermined and there is no damage estimate.

Accidental blaze on Sandy St. in Chatham

(Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services)

Crews responded to a report of a dryer fire at 349 Sandy St. at 12:35 a.m. on Sunday, February 4.

Fire officials say smoke alarms alerted the residents of the unit and they safely evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters.

The fire was quickly knocked down and firefighters prevented it from spreading beyond the laundry room.

There was heavy smoke damage throughout the rest of the unit.

There were no injuries to report and damage is pegged at $80,000.

The cause has been ruled accidental.

Busy night in Chatham on January 31

(Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services)

Firefighters responded to fires in Chatham on January 31 at 200 Stanley Street and 300 Grand Ave E.

Fire officials say crews from stations 1 and 2 responded to reports of a building on fire on Grand Ave East at 10:45 p.m.

Upon arrival they discovered the building was involved with smoke coming from a number of windows and flames showing from the first floor.

Firefighters conducted an interior search on all storeys of the building, while quickly knocking down the fire.

Just prior to this incident, crews from Chatham responded to a fire at 200 Stanley Ave at 10:30 p.m.

The small fire was extinguished by the property owner.

No injuries were reported at either scene.

Both incidents are currently under investigation by the Chatham-Kent Police Service.

Accidental fire on Payne Street in Chatham

(Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services)

Firefighters from Stations #1 & #2 in Chatham were called to a house fire on Payne Street just after 2:30 a.m on January 31.

Fire officials say while a woman was sleeping, a blanket fell onto a space heater and caused the fire, which ignited her bedding and mattress.

Two other occupants were awake at the time and able to put out the fire with a home fire extinguisher.

There were no working smoke alarms installed in the home.

A 52-year-old female and 27-year-old female occupant were assessed by EMS and transported to Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

After crews conducted an interior search for hotspots and cleared the smoke from the property, firefighters fitted a number of smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm in the home.

“She is extremely lucky that someone in the home was awake in the middle of the night to put the fire out,” stated Assistant Chief Chris Case.

“The outcome of this incident could have been very different. The best way to protect your family during a fire is by having working alarms installed and maintained – it’s the law.”

It is the law for all Ontario homes to have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.

This covers single family, semi-detached and town homes, whether owner-occupied or rented.

An After the Fire – Reassurance Campaign was set to take place, as firefighters were returning to the area to visit residents, check alarms, discuss fire safety planning and answer questions.

For more information visit www.ckfes.ca or request a CHiRP Home Alarm Check by calling 519-360-1998.

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