Herring Cove family escapes house fire by jumping from back deck

Embers from fire caused smaller fires in neighbourhood

Image | Herring Cove Tribune fire

Caption: Firefighters were still on scene at Tribune Court in Herring Cove on Friday morning. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

A family of four escaped a fire at their Herring Cove, N.S., home early Friday by jumping from the back deck.
Firefighters were called to Tribune Court around 4 a.m.
When crews arrived the house was covered in flames, said Scott Shaffner, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency's district chief.
"Because of that, it was initially a defensive fire, meaning there was too much fire to send crews inside, so we fought it from the exterior," he said.

Image | Herring Cove fire 2

Caption: Two adults and two children escaped from the fire by jumping off their back deck. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

The family living in the home, including two adults and two young children, managed to escape uninjured.
"The occupants were home at the time and they made a jump off a rather high deck on the back of the house to escape the fire. It took off rather quickly."
Embers were blown onto properties on a neighbouring street and started other smaller fires.
"We had a couple of little spot fires, one in particular on the next street down that we had to send crews to as well," said Shaffner. "But those were contained."

Image | Herring Cove house fire

Caption: A home on Tribune Court in Herring Cove has been destroyed by an overnight fire. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

The cause of the fire hasn't been determined.
Firefighters remained on scene as of 8 a.m. Friday.
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