Firefighters contain Isle Madame apartment building fire
Firefighters from across the Strait Area contained a fire late Thursday afternoon at an apartment building on Isle Madame, preventing the blaze from spreading into the main section of the building and its living areas.
Deputy Fire Chief, Codie Forest of the Isle Madame Volunteer Fire Department says the majority of the fire damage was confined to the back section of the D’Escousse Seniors Complex. “The back stairwell and furnace rooms are heavily fire damaged,” Forest said.
Crews from Isle Madame were supported by mutual aid from Louisdale, St. Peters and Port Hawkesbury. Forest says their combined efforts prevented the fire from breaching into the main building and the apartments.
While the main living areas were protected from direct fire damage, residents are still facing the effects of the blaze.
Forest says there will be water damage to the back couple of apartments, while smoke damage is expected throughout the building.
The fire also prompted a broad response
The Canadian Red Cross was also contacted to begin putting a plan in place for residents. EHS was requested to attend and stand by, while the RCMP and Nova Scotia Power were also on scene supporting the response.
The local community hall, The D’Escousse Civic Improvement Centre, moved quickly to help residents affected by the fire by establishing an emergency shelter.
Forest says the community response was appreciated.
“So we thank them for that as well,” he said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
