A house fire on Cedar Heights Road in North Bay destroyed a home Sunday evening. The sole resident, an elderly man, was safely evacuated with the help of firefighters. Two cats did not survive.
Crews arrived shortly after 6:30 p.m. to find the structure fully engulfed, with heavy smoke on the main floor and a well-established fire in the basement. Fire officials say the occupant had recently lit a wood stove or fireplace, but the cause of the blaze will remain undetermined.
Firefighters initially entered the home to ensure no one else was inside, but additional combustibles in the basement intensified the flames, forcing crews to switch to a defensive attack. The response was complicated by difficult access, low lighting, slippery conditions, and the nearest hydrant being nearly a kilometre away, requiring water shuttling.
About 24 firefighters were involved in the operation, and crews expected to clear the scene by early Monday afternoon. No damage estimate has been released.
Officials are reminding residents to maintain working smoke alarms, emphasizing that early detection can save lives.