Thursday, December 11, 2003

MINOR INJURIES AFTER HOUSE DESTROYED IN FIRE
Goulais River, Ont.,

A Goulais River man was taken to Sault and Area Hospital after an early morning house fire destroyed his home

At about 3:00 o’clock this morning, Goulais River Fire and Rescue as well as Sault Ste. Marie O.P.P. were called to the house at 405 Hwy 17 in Goulais River. The lone male occupant of the house escaped from the fire and was suffering from smoke inhalation.

Forty-four-year-old Kelly Bovingdon of Goulais River was sent to Sault and Area Hospital by ambulance where he was treated for smoke inhalation.

The investigation has determined that the man was sleeping when a dog in the house woke him up. Mr. Bovingdon quickly saw smoke coming from the attic and tried to put the fire out with his fire extinguisher. When he was unsuccessful, he ran to his neighbours for help. The fire department and police were called.

It appears the fire may have originated in or around a new wood stove and chimney that had recently been installed. The house was totally destroyed. Mr. Bovingdon had no insurance on the home. He is being assisted by Victim Crisis and Referral Service (V.C.A.R.S.) as well as the Red Cross.


WEATHER AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS CAUSE SHORT CLOSURE OF HWY 17
Heyden, Ont.,

Snow, ice and a stuck transport on a hill north of Sault Ste. Marie forced police to close a small section of Hwy 17 last night until the truck was removed.

At about 6:15 last night, a truck became jack-knifed on Hwy 17 on the Mile Hill in the Heyden area. O.P.P. restricted travel on that section of Hwy 17 until additional sand could be spread on the roadway and the truck was removed.

There were no other weather related traffic problems reported to the Sault Ste. Marie O.P.P. yesterday.