Just after 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, firefighters from all three stations responded to a structure fire in a fourplex apartment building located at 196 Second Ave. E, according to a report from North Bay Fire and Emergency Services.
On arrival, firefighters entered the apartment unit that was completely engulfed in flame and extinguished the fire, states Deputy Fire Chief Greg Saunders. One person was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation by on-scene paramedics.
"There is very significant fire damage to the apartment of origin and smoke damage to the other units in the structure," relays Saunders. "The cause of the fire is still under investigation but may have been caused by battery charging equipment that is not CSA approved."
No firefighters were injured during the response. The Red Cross provided support to the residents who were displaced by the incident.
"The residents of the affected apartment unit were asleep and alerted to the danger by the properly maintained smoke alarms," Saunders adds. "The alarms provided the residents with the notification required to safely evacuate and call 9-1-1. Another clear example working smoke alarms do save lives."
Tips from NBFES to safely charge batteries:
- Keep your battery in sight when charging and unplug it when charging is complete.
- Use the charger that came with your device. If you need a replacement, buy from a trusted source, and ensure it's compatible with your device.
- Only use chargers that have one of the recognized Canadian certification marks, such as CSA, cUL and cETL.
- Charge your device on a hard surface, not on soft surfaces like beds, couches, or under pillows. Always charge away from exit doors in case of fire.
- Charge your battery before it drops below 30% for better longevity and safety but avoid keeping it at 100% for long periods.
