Fire destroys two residences - male charged

OPP NEWS RELEASE

(Haviland Township) – At 3:25 pm yesterday afternoon Sault Ste. Marie OPP, Goulais River Fire & Rescue, Aweres Fire & Rescue, Batchewana Fire & Rescue, Algoma Power, and Sault Area Ambulance responded to a fire in the 100 block of Haviland Shores Drive in Goulais River.

Upon arrival at the scene, the entire residence was completely engulfed in flames and spreading to two neighbouring homes on the west side.

The fire completely destroyed two homes and melted the siding off of a third.

The fire started when a homeowner began to burn a box by dumping it inside a burn barrel located in the backyard of the residence.

The homeowner left the barrel unattended returning to it approximately 30 minutes later.

By this time the homeowner found that the leaves on the ground along the wood shed located near the burn barrel were on fire and spreading.

The owner’s garden hoses were not hooked up and while attempting to hook them up, the fire spread rapidly catching the side of the house on fire.

An eighty-nine year old female was rescued from the residence.

One firefighter received non life-threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to hospital.

Several firefighters were also treated for heat exhaustion.

Seventy-eight year old Edwin M. Cooney of 19 Haviland Shores Drive, Haviland Township was charged under the Forest Fire Protection Act for Starting A Fire In A Restricted Fire Zone Without a Permit.