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Rose Manor Fire Sept 23 2026 (4)

Most Rose Manor residents find new accommodations, fundraising campaign continues

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The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) says 25 of 31 residents from Rose Manor in Fort Frances have found alternative accommodations while the apartment complex is repaired.

They have been housed at a local hotel since a fatal fire in September.

That stay, which has been funded through insurance, is coming to an end later this month as the available funding runs out.

The DRRSB has been working vigorously to find other places for the residents.

Staff have now focused on one-on-one housing plans with the tenants who have not yet secured housing.

“The one-on-one meetings have been seeing results,” states Sandra Weir, Housing and Homelessness Prevention Manager, in a release.

“We recognize that finding the right housing solution can take time, particularly when people have different needs, preferences and financial circumstances. We are grateful to the landlords and property owners who have already come forward to help, and we continue to look for suitable options for the remaining tenants.”

In the meantime, a GoFundMe campaign to help residents continues.

It was started by Melissa Pearson and Joanne Smith, after Pearson had attended a recent tenants meeting.

“Many of them are seniors and they’re living on like limited incomes and their stories, they really stuck with me,” says Pearson.

It’s a devastating situation for these people, and I just know how generous our community is and how we rally around people in their time of need, and this group of folks needs our help and support.”

Pearson says the money will first be used to help the tenants with accommodation costs.

That could include helping to cover the cost of them staying in their hotel rooms if necessary.

Pearson says she has also received inquiries about help residents replace belongings destroyed by the fire.

“We have received a very gracious donation from the Window and Door Store of a storage unit,” says Pearson.

“What we plan to do is collect items for residents. I’ve had a few people reach out to me and say that they have items that are gently used, in good condition, that they would be happy to donate.”

Some of those items are already in storage and will be distributed when tenants return to their apartments.

The DRRSB says it could be several months before they can determine when that will take place.

Anyone with available accommodations can contact the DRRSB at 807-274-5349.

Click here for information on how to support the GoFundMe campaign.

Yarmouth Fire

Yarmouth rallies behind families affected by house fire

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A devastating house fire has left multiple families with nothing but the clothes on their backs, now, the community in Yarmouth is rallying behind them.

In the late morning on Oct. 31st, at a time when families should have been preparing for a fun night of trick-or-treating, a fire broke out at a multi-unit residence near the corner of Main Street and Argyle Street.

Police closed down the area, and fire departments from Lake Vaughan and Port Maitland were called in to assist.

Smoke billowed from the front and back of the house, and flames could be seen coming from upper windows. More than an hour into fighting the blaze, one firefighter on scene said they were having trouble locating the source of the fire, which was deep inside the building.

Firefighters had to cut multiple holes in the roof and sides of the building to gain access to the fire.

Argyle Street fire Yarmouth (October 2026) IMAGE: Tyler Reis-Sanford

Shortly after 4 p.m. the Yarmouth Fire Department said they extinguished the blaze, but the building and everything inside was largely destroyed.

The department confirmed that nobody was hurt, and that an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Multiple GoFundMe fundraisers have since been posted for families who lost everything in the tragedy.

“In an instant, their lives were turned upside down, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs”, reads one page for a young family with a 16-month-old son.

Argyle Street fire Yarmouth (October 2026) IMAGE: Tyler Reis-Sanford

Another fundraiser says that a family with three young children did not have a chance to look into tenants insurance, and that they lost everything in the fire.

Just days after the tragedy, nearly $2,000 have been raised to support affected families.

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Council votes to refer Halifax fire chief to budget committee on more resources

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A unanimous vote by Halifax Council to refer the Halifax fire chief to the budget committee when they discuss plans for 2027/28, as she continues the push for more resources.

Deryn Rizzi asked Council to include $1 million in additional funding for equipment, but also, 20 additional firefighters to its roster.

In a social media post, the union says it would finally fill a gap in their aerial truck staffing.

“Halifax Professional Fire Fighters have advocated for increased aerial staffing for years. We strongly support Chief Rizzi’s request and recognize this as an important step toward improving emergency response capabilities across our municipality,” the union wrote in a social media post.

This comes the morning after a massive fire at a grain elevator in the south end of Halifax, where the flames were about 135 feet off the ground.

That kind of fire highlights the staffing issues, they say. They have been running those trucks with two firefighters regularly staffing them, when they need at least three according to the manufacturer’s guidance, while four is the international standard.

They previously told our newsroom that they must pull firefighters from other truck teams when the aerial trucks are needed.

Chief Deryn Rizzi told our newsroom previously that she was not making major plans for this request, because she needed time to review the way the force operates, having only taken over the role in August.

She acknowledged then that staffing was a major concern.

In general, the union has also previously highlighted the need for more staff in general, saying that big fires pull resources from other departments across the city.

Monday night was another reminder of that, the union says, because of the fire’s scale and complexity.

“While crews work to protect lives and property at one major incident, our communities continue to rely on fire fighters being available to respond to the next emergency,” the union wrote.

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‘Complex’: fire at grain elevator under control after difficult overnight battle

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A fire at the grain elevator in the south end of Halifax has been put out after hours of “complex and difficult” battle with the flames.

Crews responded Monday night to a fire at the grain elevator on Marginal Road with a response that Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency (HRFE) described as “significant”.

In a social media post just before 10 p.m., Halifax Fire says there were 56 firefighters and 20 apparatus involved.

HRFE arrived on the scene shortly after 8 p.m., and fought the blaze into the early morning.

”Crews working to contain the fire and protect the nearby vessel while navigating the challenges presented by the industrial infrastructure and elevated firefighting operations.”

The blaze took hours to bring down, with firefighters remaining on scene until just after 1 a.m.. A spokesperson for the fire union said the work was “extremely complex”, and that crews worked hard under “a difficult circumstance”.

In a post on social media at around 9 p.m., Halifax Professional Fire Fighters said there were multiple crews working inside the structure to contain the blaze.

The union says HRFE Fire Chief Deryn Rizzi was on scene overseeing operations.

HRFE said it was about 135 feet above ground.

“Within the facility’s dust management system, presenting significant access and tactical consideration.”

At it’s peak, the fire was considered a three-alarm response, meaning a large-scale severe emergency requiring a significant response. The risk level has since been reduced.

HRFE says they’ve left gear like hoses on site in case of a potential flare-up, and that fire investigative services are looking into the cause of the fire.

Residents are still being asked to avoid the area.

Fort Frances Fire logo

Fort Frances Fire Rescue responds to house fire in town’s east end

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No injuries were reported following a house fire in Fort Frances.

Members of the Fort Frances Fire Rescue Service were called to a home on Strachan Place just before 8 p.m. Thursday.

The home’s occupants escaped before fire crews arrived.

Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control quickly, minimizing any damage caused.

The cause of the fire is not identified, but the Fire Service is reminding residents to keep combustible materials at least one metre away from heat-producing appliances, such as furnaces and heaters.

It also recommends having the appliances annually inspected and serviced.

Fire photo St. Peter's old fire hall

Volunteer fire departments in Antigonish receive $60,000 from province

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The province has announced $30,000 of funding for two volunteer fire departments in Antigonish.

The North Shore Volunteer department, and the Tracadie and District Volunteer department are getting the money to purchase new equipment.

Antigonish MLA Michelle Thompson said what the gear firefighters use are an important part of keeping them healthy.

“New breathing apparatuses and flash hoods for North Shore, and gas detection equipment and a thermal imaging camera for Tracadia, give our volunteers better protection on every call,” said Thompson. “Healthy, well-equipped firefighters mean a stronger response for everyone in Antigonish.”

Funding for the program is being provided by the Emergency Services Provider Fund, which covers up to 90 per cent of eligible equipment costs, up to $30,000 per organization.

The program provides more than $2.7 million of funding for more than 100 local organizations across the province.

Rose Manor Fire Sept 23 2026 (4)

Temporary accommodations in Fort Frances for displaced Rose Manor residents nearing an end

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The District of Rainy River Services Board DRRSB is seeking temporary accommodations for residents of Rose Manor.

They have been housed at a local motel since a fire in September.

However, those arrangements will come to an end on November 15th because insurance funding that was available will be exhausted.

The Services Board says it will be several months before repairs to the seniors’ apartment building are complete and the building can be safely used again.

It is reaching out to the community for assistance.

It is asking private landlords, property owners and community members who may have suitable rental accommodations or a room available for the displaced Rose Manor tenants.

Anyone in a position to help can call 807-274-5349 and leave their information with reception.

The DRRSB’s Homelessness Prevention Team is also working to explore available housing, including the use of a limited number of units available at other DRRSB-owned housing.

“DRRSB staff are doing everything possible to support Rose Manor tenants through this difficult transition,” states Chief Administrative Officer Charene Gillies in a release.

“We are grateful for the extraordinary compassion shown by our community. While our resources are limited, we will continue working with residents and partners to identify every reasonable option available.”

Many other local agencies, community partners, businesses, organizations, and residents have stepped forward to provide assistance to the tenants since the fire.

This has led to food, clothing, transportation, accommodations and other needs being provided.

The DRRSB says continued community support will be important as tenants seek alternative accommodations and replacement furnishings lost in the fire.

Fire photo St. Peter's old fire hall

Old St. Peter’s fire hall totally destroyed after devastating fire

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The old St. Peter’s fire hall has been completely destroyed after a devastating fire.

St. Peter’s Volunteer Fire Department got a call Wednesday evening about a fire at the building on Grenville Street, according to a news release.

When they arrived, the building was already fully engulfed, and they called for some extra support from the L’Ardoise and Louisdale Volunteer Fire Departments.

After a fire at the old St. Peter’s fire hall, the building has been totally destroyed. PHOTO WITH PERMISSION: Colin MacDougall

St. Peter’s Fire Chief Marvin MacLean was very glad for the help of the other fire departments.

“We were just super happy with all the mutual aid response and, essentially, all the firefighters that showed up to put the fire out,” says Maclean.

He says they managed to contain the fire and stop it from spreading to a nearby home.

“That was our main goal, to make sure all the other surrounding structures didn’t catch.”

The structure has totally collapsed, and an excavator was on scene to make sure there were no hotspots left, says MacLean.

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Crews responding to structure fire in St. Peter’s.

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Editor’s Note: The video below may include language offensive to some.

Fire crews are responding to a structure fire in St. Peter’s, Wednesday night.

According to photos on social media around 9 p.m., it is on Grenville Street. A video from an eyewitness shows the old fire hall up in flames.

VIDEO: Rachel Macdonald with permission.

The Municipality of the County of Richmond is advising that Highway 104 is closed leading into St. Peter’s, expected for several hours.

Details remain few at this time.

school bus stop

No children on school bus that was on fire in Truro

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No children were on a school bus that went up in flames in Truro on Friday.

In a social media post around 2:30 p.m., Truro Police said they were dealing with a school bus fire at the intersection of Willow and Victoria Streets.

They said no students were involved in the incident.

In an update around 5 p.m., police said the scene had been cleared.

Details remain few. It is unclear what started the fire.

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