Red Cross providing assistance following house fire in Eel Brook

Two people required overnight treatment in hospital for smoke inhalation after fire damaged a home in Lower Eel Brook on Wednesday night.

The Eel Brook and District Fire Department responded to the Aug. 13 fire around 10 p.m. The West Pubnico and Lake Vaughan volunteer fire departments provided mutual aid.

Hector Babin, chief of the Eel Brook department, says fire damage was contained to an upstairs bedroom. But there was water damage in the kitchen below from water that had seeped through the ceiling.

“There was a lot of smoke in the upstairs. When we ventilated we could see what was going on,” Babin said. “We stayed longer because some of the wiring upstairs was burnt, so we stayed to clear the smoke and do some mop up. We were there for about two-and-a-half hours.”

The Canadian Red Cross said its volunteers from Yarmouth will arrange for replacement clothing and will provide other assistance if needed for the woman and her 15-year-old granddaughter who were in the house. They were staying temporarily with relatives once released from hospital on Thursday.

"When our disaster volunteers are called to a case like this, the first thing they do upon meeting with those affected is to assess their needs for immediate aid," said Dan Bedell, director of public affairs, Canadian Red Cross/Atlantic Zone. "Since the woman and her granddaughter already had places to stay with relatives, our team focused on assisting in other ways, such as providing personal care items, and vouchers for some

replacement clothing, other essentials and even to help with food if required."