On March 21, 2020 at 11:16 p.m. the Madawaska Valley Fire Department was dispatched to a house on fire next to the Combermere Service Centre on Combermere Road (County Rd. 62). Fire Dispatch received four calls to report the fire at 39158 Combermere Road — two from cars passing by and two from the neighbours who spotted the fire. The structure was fully engulfed as fire fighters arrived.
At this point the Fire Department went to a defensive attack as there was a 22-foot trailer full of tires 8 feet from the rear of the house. Another concern for the fire fighters came from tanks on the site: 500-gallon tank with diesel, 500-gallon tank with gasoline and 250-gallon tank of waste oil. The tanks were hosed down to keep them cool. Along with this hazard, the fire fighters worked in temperatures of -15 Celsius that felt like -21 Celsius with the wind chill. Everything was turning to ice, including the fire fighters. Tanker trucks shuttled 14,000 gallons of water to prevent the fire from spreading and to finally extinguish it.
MV Fire Department responded with two trucks and 21 fire fighters (2 pumpers, 2 tankers, 2 rescue trucks). The fire fighters worked for two and a half hours to control the fire and keep it from spreading. At 1:30 a.m. the North Station was released from the scene. The South Hall cleared the scene a little after 3:00 a.m. Two fire fighters remained on the scene to watch for flare ups until 7:00 a.m. Fire fighters attended the scene again at 12:00 p.m. to extinguish four flare ups. The scene was cleared at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22.
The house was completely destroyed, with an estimated loss in the region of $250,000. (inset: remains of structure close to Combermere Service Centre.) The owner of the house is insured. However, the person renting the property did not have insurance. The garage which is located 21 feet from the house received minor damage. Siding on the walls of the garage is melted. The trailer was also heavily damaged on the side of the trailer facing the house. The fire fighters’ action prevented the tires and any of the fuel tanks from catching fire.
Madawaska Valley Fire Chief along with the OPP Killaloe Detachment are investigating the fire. The Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office was consulted, but it was determined they were not required. Cause of the fire is undetermined. It is not deemed suspicious.
Quade,C. Madawaska Valley Fire Dept. (2020,Mar.23) STRUCTURE FIRE 39158 COMBERMERE ROAD [media release]
Photos Madawaska Valley Fire Department