Two homes destroyed, building demolished as Fire Marshal investigates
Nov 17, 2008 - 08:20 AM
By Jillian Follert
OSHAWA -- Four people escaped with their lives and not much else Monday morning after a massive fire tore through two homes on Albert Street.
The red brick semi at the corner of Albert Street and 1st Avenue went up in flames just after 1:30 a.m., leaving two couples scrambling to get out.
On one side, a woman jumped from the second storey because she couldn’t get to the stairs. On the other, resident Sheryl -- who asked that her last name not be used -- said it was a mad dash to round up her two dogs and help her husband, who is disabled and uses a scooter to get around.
“Our smoke alarms went off and we heard someone screaming ‘Fire,’” she said. “We got out as fast as we could. I don’t have my purse, I don’t have anything. I was out here in my robe and slippers.”
Sheryl and her husband were unharmed, while her two neighbours suffered minor injuries and smoke inhalation. They were taken to hospital and released later Monday morning.
Deputy Fire Chief Bob Warrington said multiple 911 calls came in just after 1:30 a.m. reporting the fire, and that it was blazing by the time seven trucks and 22 firefighters arrived on scene.
“It was very involved when we got there; the windows had blown out,” he said.
The blaze started at 511 Albert St. -- the home where the woman leapt to safety -- and quickly spread next door to number 509.
Mr. Warrington said it’s too early to speculate on the cause, although several neighbours blamed the baseboard heaters that are commonplace in the turn of the century homes on Albert Street.
The deputy chief said it’s also early to estimate the damage amount, but said it is likely high.
“Both homes are a write-off. They’re completely destroyed,” he said.
Standing across the street from the smouldering wreckage of her home Monday morning, Sheryl and her twin sister, Sheila, who drove in from Brampton, discussed how to piece her life back together.
Sheryl and her husband own the home and have insurance, but everything they own is destroyed.
“It’s hard without my ID and my wallet and everything,” said Sheryl, wearing clothes borrowed from a neighbour. “I was able to get a new bank card this morning, so that’s something. I just don’t even know what to do right now.”
Heavy equipment was brought in Monday afternoon to pull down what was left of the brick walls.
Staff from the Oshawa Fire Services prevention office have started an investigation and were expected to be joined on scene by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office later in the day.
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