WATERVILLE, N.S. - Flames could be seen venting through the roof of a duplex as firefighters arrived at the scene of a structure fire on Thompson Road Nov. 22.
The blaze, reported around 8:45 p.m., forced the evacuation of both units in the building located in the 900 block of the residential roadway in Waterville.
“There were four people living on one side and three on the other. The family of four, paramedics did see them at the scene and transported them to hospital for further assessment,” said Waterville & District Fire Department spokesperson Kevin Ernest.
The fire was mostly contained to one unit but smoke flowed throughout the structure, Ernest said. Fire departments from Berwick and Kentville provided mutual aid.
“It was nearly midnight by the time we packed up,” said Ernest.
“It’s extensively damaged. The roof on the northside is gone.”
Firefighters contended with the extreme heat from the fully involved structure fire and the contrasting sub-zero weather that led to slippery road conditions.
“Whenever it’s freezing cold like it was… and you’re dealing with water, you’ve got to keep it moving or it will freeze but it certainly didn’t hamper anything that we were doing,” said Ernest.
The cause of the fire was deemed to be accidental in nature.
“We don’t anticipate any further investigation,” said Ernest.
