Two teenagers, two dogs and a thirsty cat were unharmed Wednesday afternoon after a small house fire at a Front Street home in Campbell’s Bay.
The Campbell’s Bay-Litchfield fire department responded to a call at 3:15 p.m., according to department chief Kevin Kluke, who said the fire occurred on the back side of the home.
“It was accidental. There was cardboard outside and it caught fire and it went up to the siding and stayed on the outside of the building, which was fortunate for us,” he said, noting the cause of the fire was still to be determined.
Kluke confirmed there were two teenage boys inside the home at the time as well as the three pets, all of whom were unharmed.
Kluke said after extinguishing the fire and securing the premises, the damage to the home was minor and that the family was permitted to re-enter the home.
“There’s some repairs [needed] to the siding, but there’s no damage inside,” he said.
Members of the community also came to the scene to lend a hand. Campbell’s Bay councillor Josey Bouchard, who lives a few houses down, handled one of the neighbours’ dogs while they gave a statement to the Sûreté du Québec.
MRC Pontiac public security coordinator and volunteer firefighter Julien Gagnon was at the MRC building when he got word of the fire. He rushed over to the station, donned the first jacket he saw, and went to lend a hand.
“We adopt him sometimes during the day,” said Kluke, who was appreciative of the help.
Gagnon said the fire department was able to locate a cage where the visibly disturbed cat could remain while the firefighters finished securing the home.
“Everyone inside is okay, I don’t think the cat liked it though,” Gagnon said.
The cat was offered sweet relief from the hot conditions in the form of a refreshing bottle of water, hand-delivered by a Campbell’s Bay-Litchfield firefighter Natanya Dubeau.
