Seven homeless following Kentville duplex fire

BY JOHN DECOSTE

jdecose@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Seven people, including three children, were left temporarily homeless as the result of a fire Tuesday night in one half of a duplex on Belcher Street in the north end of Kentville.

Dan Bedell, a spokesperson for the Canadian Red Cross which assisted with emergency clothing, food, blankets and personal care items, said an adult couple, three young children and two adult in-laws escaped the fire without injury and were staying with relatives temporarily.

The other side of the duplex, occupied by another relative, was not damaged.

Kentville firefighters responded to the alarm at 177 Belcher Street around 9 p.m. Ironically, they were on their way to provide mutual aid at the scene of a mobile home fire in Canning when they received the Belcher Street alarm.

Firefighters were able to respond in timely fashion because most of the department was in the midst of a training session at the time the 9-1-1 emergency call came in.

Damage from the fire was heaviest in the kitchen area of the residence. Fire department officials investigated the cause of the fire and it was determined to have started from a pot of fat cooking French fries on a stove.

Kentville fire chief Shawn Ripley reminded homeowners to be extra vigilant when cooking with fat, and never to apply water to a fat fire. “Put a lid on it, or put baking soda on it, call 9-1-1 and get out,” he said. “Water is no help at all in a fat fire.”

Ripley confirmed there were four apartments in the building and the fire, which caused more smoke damage than actual fire damage, was limited to one apartment. He said the residents were fortunate to have escaped without sustaining more serious injuries.