City fire crews respond to Algonquin Ave. fire

City fire crews were called out to a structure fire at a house at 453 Algonquin Avenue just after 10:15am this morning.

Deputy Fire Chief says Firefighters arrived to smoke visible in the third floor apartment at the rear of the building and moved quickly to extinguish it.

“The building had been evacuated at that point except for a pet which we were able to get out,” he tells BayToday.

“But our guys had made entrance to the building went to the third floor and located the fire in a bedroom on the third floor. Again they encountered a significant amount of heat and smoke but were able to contain it that area.”

“So they got at it fairly, fairly quickly so that’s where the damage is at this point strictly contained to the third floor.”

Hunt says they are certain of the cause of the fire but have requested Chief Fire Inspector Randy Vezina conduct an investigation to confirm.

“Believed to be accidental,” states Hunt.

He also adds it is too early to estimate a cost of damage but the third floor will need to be gutted and restored

Hunt cautions folks to be vigilant with anything that could act as a combustible in the heat as everything is like a tinderbox.

He applauds the crews for their fast work and notes it is not easy in the heat in fact they have rotate crews in and out of the building in order to cool down and hydrate themselves.