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Quick thinking by 4 UNB nurses leads to special recognition

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Four UNB nursing students are being recognized for their bravery, compassion and leadership.

The Moncton Fire Department and the City of Moncton honoured Awurafua Afari-Sefa, Brette Haines, Pia Massaro, and Shyla Dee after they notified emergency responders and residents of a fire on MacSweeney Avenue earlier this year.

The students were heading home from a clinical placement at Moncton Hospital when they noticed a structure on fire. They immediately called 911, but they didn’t stop there.

With strong winds pushing heat and flames toward a nearby four-unit apartment building, the students went door-to-door warning residents and helping them evacuate.

“They went above and beyond,” Moncton Fire Deputy Chief Keith Guptill said. “They didn’t just call and activate 911 so that we could be responding. They went even further to make sure that the folks that were at risk were able to exit their living quarters.”

Among those they helped were an elderly woman and a resident with a broken leg.

Celebrating people who choose to act when they see others in danger

“We are very thankful for the public and them calling 911 or helping somebody as they’re passing by who was having a difficulty,” said Guptill.

Guptill says that while many people would have called emergency services and moved on, these students chose to get involved and help their neighbours.

“There are a lot of people that will call and keep going, and we appreciate that,” he said. “But there are also people that decide it’s none of their business. These young ladies really took the time to help.”

To recognize their actions, the Moncton Fire Department presented the students with certificates of appreciation. Deputy Mayor Paul Richard also attended the ceremony and presented letters on behalf of the city. The students were also recognized by UNB’s nursing program.

Guptill believes the students’ actions reflect both their character and the values they’re learning through their education.

“This is definitely an accolade to UNB and to what they’re teaching these folks in their nursing course,” he said.

Following the ceremony, the students toured the Caledonia Road fire station, where they learned more about how firefighters, paramedics and nurses work together during emergencies.

For Guptill, the event was a reminder that stories of kindness and community spirit deserve to be celebrated.

Their actions may have started with a simple decision to stop and help, but Guptill says they’re an important reminder that there are still plenty of people willing to look out for one another.

Moncton Fire department dedication

Two duplex fires in Moncton’s north end

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Moncton Fire battled two separate duplex fires in the north end early Monday morning, including one that left two people injured.

Platoon Chief Chris Colford told our newsroom the first was reported at about 1 am on Briarlea Drive.

Colford said crews arriving on scene found flames on the exterior of a home.

“There was a fire on the exterior of the house that was going up the outside and into the eaves,” Colford explained.

About 20 firefighters responded, including two engine companies, a truck company, a rescue squad and a command vehicle. The fire was brought under control in roughly an hour.

Colford described the damage as moderate, although crews were also concerned about possible fire extension into the attic. Smoke damage was reported on the upper level of the house.

Just over two hours later, at 3:14 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to a duplex on Lonsdale Drive.

Colford said the blaze was much more serious than the earlier call, with one unit of the duplex nearly fully involved when firefighters arrived.

Heavy flames on one side of the building when crews arrived

“They immediately struck a second alarm, which brought in extra equipment,” said Colford.

The response included two engine companies, two truck companies, a rescue squad and two command vehicles.

Despite the intensity of the fire, crews were able to quickly get a hose line inside and prevent the blaze from spreading to the neighbouring unit.

“We were pretty aggressive. We managed to get a line inside right away and stop any extension, and we were able to save the other side,” he said.

The fire caused extensive damage to one unit, while the neighbouring side has water damage.

Colford said two people were injured; one person was treated at the scene, while another was taken to hospital.

Both had managed to escape the building before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters remained on scene for about three and a half hours.

“A good job to the crews. They were able to get there quickly for both incidents,” he said. “That prevented additional injuries and helped keep damage to a minimum.”

Moncton Fire Prevention is investigating the cause of both fires.

A smartphone charging from a power bank with an orange cable on a wooden table.

Charging up? Fire Prevention Week tips to prevent lithium-ion battery fires

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Lithium-ion battery fires are becoming more common, prompting a need for more awareness.

Fire Prevention Week is underway. The 2026 theme is: Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.

Moncton Fire Chief Conrad Landry says rechargeable batteries are used found in cell phones, e-bikes, and power tools in the garage, but they also come with risks people need to keep in mind.

Landry says the growing popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters is putting even more of these powerful batteries into homes across the community.

“They are a lot more powerful and hold a lot more energy. Because they’re being used more often, there are more of them out there that could malfunction.”

He cautions against using incompatible replacement chargers or batteries and recommends sticking with equipment intended or recommended for your device.

“For those who plug their cellphone in before going to bed, overnight charging isn’t necessarily the problem. But leaving the phone buried in bedding or covered by blankets is where things can become dangerous because heat can’t easily escape,” Landry explained.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends charging devices on a hard, flat surface such as a table, desk or bare floor.

“Try to be conscious that there’s no combustible material around the battery when you charge it,” Landry said.

It’s also recommended you watch for warning signs.

“If a battery becomes extremely hot or starts giving off an unusual smell, something could be wrong,” Landry stressed.

The NFPA also recommends stopping use of a device if it swells, leaks, smokes or makes popping or hissing noises, because a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery can lead to a serious fire.

“When one fails violently, an explosion can spread burning material beyond where the device was sitting,” Landry stressed.

He added that lithium-ion batteries are encouraged because they are better for the environment, but it’s important they’re used, cared for, and disposed of safely and correctly.

Fire Prevention Week runs until October 10.

Moncton and Riverview Fire Departments recently held open houses at their fire stations. Dieppe will hold one on Saturday, October 10, at the Gauvin Road Fire Station from 10 am until 2 pm.

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Cat rescued during third‑floor fire at Moncton apartment

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A cat was rescued from a third‑floor apartment after a fire broke out in Moncton on the New Brunswick Day long weekend, according to Moncton’s Fire Department.

Platoon Chief Brad Calhoun said the call came in shortly before 6 p.m. Monday for a fire at a five‑unit building in the 200 block of Robinson Street.

He explained that the first arriving truck reported smoke and flames coming from the top floor of the legacy building. Crews advanced to the third floor soon after arriving.

“They were on scene really quick… and got water on the fire really quick,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun said firefighters searched the entire building and confirmed the occupants of the affected unit had already evacuated before crews arrived.

He added that crews brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes.

“There was uh, no injuries to any civilians or firefighters and there was one cat rescued from the third floor,” he said.

Calhoun said residents of the third‑floor unit are displaced, and investigators are assessing whether smoke or water damage affects other units.

He also stated that the building has been secured and there are no ongoing risks to the public.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Moncton Fire wooded area

Small fire in Moncton wooded area extinguished quickly

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Moncton Fire was called to a wooded area behind 1600 Main Street on Monday afternoon.

Light smoke could be seen coming from a wooded area at around 1:30 pm.

Moncton Fire, wooded area fire (July 2026) IMAGE: TARA CLOW

The crackling sound of dried wood and grass could be heard from nearby.

Moncton firefighters were only on scene for about 45 minutes after acting quickly to extinguish the fire.

“We certainly have to be more diligent as the conditions get drier and the fire index stays in the red. We’ll certainly be paying more attention. The crews are always ready to get out and do what they have to do.” Moncton Fire Platoon Chief Brad Calhoun told our newsroom.

He said this fire was fairly small, but with drier conditions, flames can spread much quicker.

Calhoun added that if you ever see smoke coming from a grassy or wooded area, you should call for emergency response. “Absolutely call 9-1-1. We’d rather go there and check it out and can catch it while it’s small before it becomes a bigger issue for us.”

Moncton Fire, wooded area fire (July 2026) IMAGE: TARA CLOW
Moncton Fire, wooded area fire (July 2026) IMAGE: TARA CLOW

Moncton fire 2

Moncton Fire battles blazes on John and Clover Streets

A busy weekend for Moncton fire, including two fires in buildings with apartments.

The first on John Street was reported at around 10 am on Saturday.

“I believe it was a six-unit apartment building with a business. We received a report while responding that there were possibly people trapped, and that the RCMP were on scene confirming it. Prior to arrival, we could see smoke in the air, so we knew we had a working fire. Our first truck on scene confirmed that there was smoke on the second and third floors at the rear of the building, and they proceeded directly into the building to see if there was anybody still trapped. “Moncton Fire Platoon Chief Scott Brown explained.

Firefighters determined that there was no one in the building. Brown said the residents managed to escape prior to the department’s arrival on scene.

“Ambulance New Brunswick medics were on scene, and they treated some tenants for smoke inhalation, but did not transport anybody,” Brown stated.

Firefighters were on scene for around two hours. There’s significant damage to at least two units.

Meantime, at around 3 pm the same afternoon, another fire, but this time it was in the garbage room in the underground parking garage of a new four-storey apartment building on Clover Street.

“The first truck in was able to confirm that there was smoke coming out of the back entrance, where you would normally enter the underground parking. They had a separate door to the garbage area, and fire could be seen in some of the garbage receptacles there,” Brown added.

He also stated that normally, there would be challenges with a fire in an underground parking garage. With modern construction and municipal bylaws, the garbage storage area had a separate door, which made their job much easier. Firefighters were able to easily move items from the fire outside.

The fire was contained to the garbage room, and that meant no cars parked in the underground garage were damaged.

“The only damage would be some paint and smoke and water damage to that room and the sprinkler that was activated,” Brown said.

Marsh fire 3

Marsh fire in Moncton

A busy morning for Moncton firefighters, on the marsh.

Platoon Chief Paul Bruens says they received a call just before 10:30 am about a grass fire near Assomption Boulevard and Vaughn Harvey Boulevard.

He added that the fire covered an area around the size of a football field.

Moncton Fire had two engines and a tanker on scene, and Riverview Fire and Rescue offered mutual aid for water with a tanker and a brush truck.

Around 14 firefighters helped to battle the fire. They managed to get the blaze extinguished within the hour.

“The guys did an excellent job,” Bruens added.

He said it’s not unusual to have grass fires at this time of year, but Bruens added the grass is very dry, but the ground underneath is wet.

There’s no word on a cause yet.

Marsh fire in Moncton (March 2026) PHOTO: SARAH MACNEILL/WITH PERMISSION
Leeside Drive fire March 19 2026

No injuries in Leeside Drive fire

A residence on Leeside sustained substantial damage after a fire Thursday afternoon.

Fortunately, no one was injured.

Acting Platoon Chief Scott Brown of the Moncton Fire Department said the call came in just after 1:30 p.m., reporting smoke showing.

Brown said when crews arrived, there were flames on the back side of the house.

He said the owners were home at the time, but had already gotten out by the time crews arrived.

Brown said 19 firefighters and five vehicles responded.

He said the fire was quickly knocked down and crews were able to clear the scene after a little over an hour.

He said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Gorge Road fire-Codiac Response 2

Gorge Road home destroyed by fire

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Seven people have been displaced after a house fire on Gorge Road.

Acting Platoon Chief for Moncton Fire, James Rooney, described the scene to our newsroom when they arrived at around noon on Monday, “The house was fully involved in fire. That means there was fire from front to back, left to right. It had a really good head start on us. Our attack crews attempted to get the interior, to get at the seat of the fire, but were pushed out due to the extensive heat and smoke.”

The home is in the Maple Hills area, which is just outside the city limits, and there are no hydrants.

“So when we work in a non-hydrant district, we need more trucks to haul more water because we need to bring every drop with us,” Rooney explained.

Rooney added that one of the biggest challenges was that the first floor collapsed into the basement, and firefighters were unable to enter the house. “That just makes it very hard to extinguish a fire from the outside.”

It took around two hours to get the fire under control, and heavy equipment was brought in to knock down the remainder of the structure so firefighters could finish extinguishing the building.

The occupants managed to escape uninjured before Moncton Fire arrived.

“We had 17 firefighters on scene from Moncton, and probably another four from Dieppe and another four from Riverview. They were shuttling water and actively helped in fire suppression operations,” Rooney explained.

RCMP and Ambulance New Brunswick were also there to assist.

Hows Crescent fire (March 2026) (Image: submitted by Wade Perry)

Guns found in home during fire, two men arrested

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Three fires made for a busy weekend for Moncton Fire.

Deputy Chief Keith Guptill says the first fire was on Saturday morning in an attached garage on Foxwood Drive in the north end.

“The call came in at approximately 8 am. When crews arrived, there was smoke and a large amount of flames coming out through the two-car garage. Firefighters brought it under control, probably by around 9 am. They remained on scene for about another hour. There was some smoke damage to the home, but the residents have one of those steel doors that you’re supposed to have between the garage and the house, and it was closed, which saved any further destruction inside the home other than slight smoke,” Guptill explained.

Foxwood Drive fire (March 2026) (Image: submitted by Wade Perry)

There were 18 firefighters on scene assisting to battle the blaze.

The garage and the hybrid vehicle were badly damaged. Guptill added that the hybrid vehicle was charging at the time, but that is not where the fire originated.

Foxwood Drive fire (March 2026) (Image: submitted by Wade Perry)

A second fire broke out at a one-storey home on Elmwood Drive at around 10:50 am the same day.

Guptill said that fire was in a home undergoing renovations, “It was just outside the city limits, and because there are no hydrants out that way, we had to call the Dieppe Fire Department to help us move some water. It was a single-family dwelling, but it’s under renovation, so the complete inside of the place was gutted. When our firefighters made entry, there was a lot of smoke, but they didn’t see flames right away. Once they went inside, you could see the fire, but it was literally on the other side of the home. Because everything was gutted, they were able to make easy access to it and put it out quite quickly. Severe damage to the home, though.”

Once again, around 20 firefighters were on scene for around two hours.

On Sunday, a call came in that required the assistance of both Moncton Fire and Codiac RCMP.

Guptill explained they were called to Hows Crescent in the west end of the city at around 2 pm, where they found heavy smoke.

“They didn’t find the fire until they were able to gain entrance to the second floor. There was a lot of damage to the upper floor, and some smoke and water damage to the lower level,” Guptill said.

He added it was challenging for firefighters because it was snowing quite hard, the temperatures were dropping quickly, and it was slippery on the street and the sidewalk.

“It was pretty hectic overall.”

Hows Crescent fire (March 2026) (Image: submitted byWade Perry)

RCMP Corporal Hans Ouellette told our newsroom that two men from Moncton, 60 and 47 years old, were arrested after the Hows Crescent fire.

Firefighters located unsecured and illegal firearms in the residence while battling the blaze.

Ouellette said as of earlier today, no charges had been laid, and the two men remained in custody.

“Members of the public may continue to see police in the Hows Crescent area as they continue their investigation,” Ouellette added.

Hows Crescent fire (March 2026) (Image: submitted byWade Perry)