Family of 7 homeless after fire guts Glace Bay house

Fire chief says South Street fire so intense it melted siding on nearby home

Image | South Street, Glace Bay fire

Caption: Firefighters in Glace Bay work to extinguish the fire on South Street. (John Chant/Glace Bay Volunteer Fire Department)

A family of seven was left homeless after a fire destroyed their two-storey home in Glace Bay, N.S., Friday afternoon.
The Glace Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call on South Street shortly after 1 p.m. The father was working out of town and four of the five children were at school.
The mother was at home with their four-year-old and went to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. A neighbour took in the children, who range from four to 17.
The Canadian Red Cross put the family up in a hotel for the weekend while they figure out what to do next.
Glace Bay fire Chief John Chant said the fire was so intense, it melted the siding off a house 20 metres away. Another nearby house and shed were also damaged.
Chant said the fire is under investigation.

Image | South Street, Glace Bay fire

Caption: The fire was intense, according to Chief John Chant. (John Chant/Glace Bay Volunteer Fire Department)