Firefighters quickly extinguished a kitchen fire at a home on Renfrew Street in Pembroke on Wednesday, limiting the damage largely to the room where the blaze began.
The Pembroke Fire Department said it received a report of the fire at about 4:15 p.m. and initially responded with one truck and the duty crew. Additional resources were requested while crews were en route through the Central Ambulance Communication Centre, which dispatches for the department.
Firefighters arrived to find light smoke coming from the first floor of the home and launched an interior attack. Crews located the fire in the kitchen and brought it under control quickly.
The department said smoke and heat damage to the remainder of the house was minimal, and all occupants had safely evacuated before firefighters arrived.
According to the fire department, the homeowner attempted to put out the fire but left the home with family members after determining it could not be controlled. The family called 911 as they exited the residence.
Officials said the home had smoke alarms, but a post-fire inspection found some devices were either not functioning properly or installed in incorrect locations.
Seven firefighters responded to the incident. No injuries were reported and no additional apparatus beyond the initial pumper truck was needed.
The Ontario Provincial Police assisted at the scene.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
(Steve Berard)
