By Lawrence Powell
The Spectator
NovaNewsNow.com
A Bridgetown couple is homeless after a late afternoon fire Friday raced up the north side of the exterior of their 19 Water Street house, also causing some interior fire damage and smoke and water damage.
Bridgetown Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Mike Lockett said the family fled through the front door uninjured and it's believed the fire, which investigators believe to be electrical in nature, may have been burning for some time on the outside wall.
Lockett said the BVFD received the call at 4:38 p.m. and when firefighters arrived on the scene half of the back side of the two-storey heritage home was engulfed in flame and heavy black smoke on the outside.
Firefighters cut a ventilation hole in the roof and donned breathing gear to fight the fire from the inside as well as the outside. Lockett said Lawrencetown and Annapolis Royal fire departments responded in mutual aid, and the trio of departments horseshoed the burning building by placing equipment on Albert, Water, and Court streets. He said it was tight quarters and firefighters used pumpers and tannkers as oppsed to the hydrant system. He said two hand lines brought the fire under control relatively quickly.
Also helping was a good turnout of volunteer firefighters during business hours, Lockett.
Firefighters stood down by about 8:15 but Lockett and Chief Randy Sheridan remained on the scene which was taped off pending an investigation. A security company was called in to protect the damaged home overnight and an investigator from the fire marshal's office was on the scene early today and determined the fire started due to an electrical fault. Lockett said the house was turned back over to the family early this afternoon.
Lockett said he belives the home, which dates back to the 1800s, is salvageable despite the interior damage on the north side.
