A family-owned cottage near Trout Lake in North Bay was destroyed in a fire Tuesday night, prompting a response from crews at all three city fire stations.
North Bay Fire and Emergency Services received the call shortly before 9 p.m. and arrived to find the structure fully engulfed in flames. The homeowner was inside at the time but safely evacuated without injury.
With no fire hydrants available in the area, firefighters relied on water tankers, portable tanks supplied from Trout Lake, and a tanker shuttle operation to battle the blaze. Crews also worked to protect nearby properties threatened by the fire.
The fire was brought under control by approximately 10:45 p.m. Investigators have begun examining the cause, which is not considered suspicious. The cottage is a total loss, and a damage estimate has not yet been released.