Wallaceburg fire strikes two families on Christmas Eve

Chatham-Kent firefighter works to put out blaze in Wallaceburg on December 24, 2013. Photo Craig Hendry

Update: Linda Bell, 57, of Wallaceburg, died of a heart attack soon after this fire. While everyone escaped the fire itself, the stress of the situation took Bell’s life.

By Craig Hendry

A Christmas Eve fire has left two families in the cold in Wallaceburg.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Chatham-Kent Fire Department assistant chief Ric Scharf said that most of the damage was kept to the rear apartment of a duplex on Elizabeth Street in Wallaceburg.

Firefighters from station 3 in Wallaceburg received the call at 6:06 p.m. and arrived to find smoke coming from the duplex. They found fire inside an interior wall near the rear structure. Chatham station 2 was called in to assist the full-time and volunteer firefighters that make up the Wallaceburg station staff.

Fire spread through the walls and into the attic of the balloon frame construction building, making it difficult for fire crews to contain the fire.

Firefighters also had to contend with ice on the scene due to the sub-zero temperatures.

According to Scharf, a dog and an unknown number of cats made it out of the residence.

Scharf also stated that a firefighter was taken to Wallaceburg hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation sustained at the fire.

Fire officials were unable to comment on the on damage estimates and cause of the fire. No residents were injured.

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Craig Hendry is southwestern Ontario’s premier fire photographer. You can find his work on Facebook at Hooks and Halligans.

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