TRURO HEIGHTS - Ten people, including seven children, were left homeless after fire damaged a duplex Sunday morning in Truro Heights.
Firefighters from four departments responded to the fire at 10 and 12 Truro Heights Connector Rd. around 9:30 a.m. A mother, five kids and some pets lived on one side while another family lived on the other side.
"They all just got out in time," said Cobequid District Fire Brigade Chief Charlie Baird.
"A couple of our firefighters, who live handy, got there and one of them ended up grabbing a rabbit and bringing it out."
Thick black smoke could be seen from downtown Truro, bringing many people towards the area. Firefighters had to restrict traffic near the Irving Big Stop to enable fire trucks to get to the scene.
About 30 firefighters from Cobequid, Truro, Hilden and Onslow Belmont fought the fire until about 3 p.m.
"The left side (of the duplex) is pretty much gutted," Baird said, while the other side has water damage.
The cause is under investigation. Representatives from the fire marshal's office were at the scene yesterday and an electrical engineer might visit the site as well. It is suspected the fire started in the basement.
"The residents living there, their smoke detectors all started going off, and when they looked into the basement, they had some major heavy smoke," Baird said.
Canadian Red Cross said Sunday its' volunteers assisted one family with emergency accommodations while the other family was staying with relatives. The Red Cross is assisting the 10 people with food, personal-care items, clothes and some newly bought school supplies, which were destroyed in the fire.
jmalloy@trurodaily.com
