He didn’t realize she was already outside, and for that, he’s thankful.
“My daughter was my main concern. It played through my mind all night – I couldn’t sleep,” said Marchese, almost 24 hours after fire destroyed the family’s home in Truro Heights.
It was suppertime when Marchese’s 15-year-old daughter came home from Monster Jam, hungry for supper. He said he put two pots of oil on the stove to make French fries and chicken nuggets. He inadvertently left one of the burners on and went to check his email.
“We moved here because of the freedom,” he said, about his family that also includes his wife, Paula, and their second daughter, aged 10. “I didn’t realize that she had gone outside to ride her bike.”
When the smoke detector started beeping and the smell of smoke became apparent, Marchese started calling out for his daughter.
“I couldn’t find her. My only concern was getting her out of the house.”
He was on the phone with 911 when he realized his daughter was already outside the home.
“I hung up with 911 because the smoke was so black and thick, I had to get out,” he said.
The family of four is staying with family members in Truro Heights while they look for a place to rent before eventually rebuilding their home. Marchese said it was insured, and the family is looking for household items and other necessities, such as clothing and toiletries, in the meantime.
“There were a lot of mementos in that house,” he said, adding his father-in-law’s ashes were one. “There were a lot of sentimental things – they were material things but they had sentimental value – but most can be replaced. Some can’t, but the memories will still be there.
“It could’ve been a lot worse. I am thankful I have my family, and one day I’ll have my house back.”
By the time Cobequid Fire Chief Todd Mills made it down the street from his home, the house he was trying to save was destroyed.
“I just live right up around the corner there,” he said, pointing across Chantilly Lane. “I was here within two minutes of the call coming in and it was gone.”
The structure involved, a home at the bottom of Chantilly Lane, was stripped down to its bare minimum - four charred walls with no roof and visible studs.
Firefighters were restricted to the perimeter of the house, dealing with thick tufts of smoke clearly visible from Truro Heights Road. They were called to the scene around 5 p.m. with reports of what started as a kitchen fire.
Neighbours standing nearby said by the time they looked outside, the house was fully in flames. It wasn't long before it was completely gutted.
On scene were members of the Cobequid department, as well as Truro, Hilden and Onslow-Belmont in support. Brookfield was called to stand in at the Hilden hall. RCMP officers blocked traffic at the corner of Truro Heights Road and Franklin Road, with an ambulance standing by just past the blockade.
Donations have already started coming in for the family, but more will be needed.
Clothing wise, the couple’s youngest daughter wears a size two shoe, 7-8 pants and small shirts. The oldest daughter, a tomboy as Marchese says, wears men’s small shirts, has a 28 waist and wears size six shoes. Marchese has a 40 waist, wears large shirts and size eight in footwear, while his wife is a 1XL with a size 10 shoe.
Anyone wishing to make donations, including housewares and toiletries, can do so at 34 Mitchell Dr., Truro Heights, or 1251 Highway 2 in Hilden, apartment 1 or 2, or by calling 902-899-8891.
He didn’t realize she was already outside, and for that, he’s thankful.
“My daughter was my main concern. It played through my mind all night – I couldn’t sleep,” said Marchese, almost 24 hours after fire destroyed the family’s home in Truro Heights.
It was suppertime when Marchese’s 15-year-old daughter came home from Monster Jam, hungry for supper. He said he put two pots of oil on the stove to make French fries and chicken nuggets. He inadvertently left one of the burners on and went to check his email.
“We moved here because of the freedom,” he said, about his family that also includes his wife, Paula, and their second daughter, aged 10. “I didn’t realize that she had gone outside to ride her bike.”
When the smoke detector started beeping and the smell of smoke became apparent, Marchese started calling out for his daughter.
“I couldn’t find her. My only concern was getting her out of the house.”
He was on the phone with 911 when he realized his daughter was already outside the home.
“I hung up with 911 because the smoke was so black and thick, I had to get out,” he said.
The family of four is staying with family members in Truro Heights while they look for a place to rent before eventually rebuilding their home. Marchese said it was insured, and the family is looking for household items and other necessities, such as clothing and toiletries, in the meantime.
“There were a lot of mementos in that house,” he said, adding his father-in-law’s ashes were one. “There were a lot of sentimental things – they were material things but they had sentimental value – but most can be replaced. Some can’t, but the memories will still be there.
“It could’ve been a lot worse. I am thankful I have my family, and one day I’ll have my house back.”
By the time Cobequid Fire Chief Todd Mills made it down the street from his home, the house he was trying to save was destroyed.
“I just live right up around the corner there,” he said, pointing across Chantilly Lane. “I was here within two minutes of the call coming in and it was gone.”
The structure involved, a home at the bottom of Chantilly Lane, was stripped down to its bare minimum - four charred walls with no roof and visible studs.
Firefighters were restricted to the perimeter of the house, dealing with thick tufts of smoke clearly visible from Truro Heights Road. They were called to the scene around 5 p.m. with reports of what started as a kitchen fire.
Neighbours standing nearby said by the time they looked outside, the house was fully in flames. It wasn't long before it was completely gutted.
On scene were members of the Cobequid department, as well as Truro, Hilden and Onslow-Belmont in support. Brookfield was called to stand in at the Hilden hall. RCMP officers blocked traffic at the corner of Truro Heights Road and Franklin Road, with an ambulance standing by just past the blockade.
Donations have already started coming in for the family, but more will be needed.
Clothing wise, the couple’s youngest daughter wears a size two shoe, 7-8 pants and small shirts. The oldest daughter, a tomboy as Marchese says, wears men’s small shirts, has a 28 waist and wears size six shoes. Marchese has a 40 waist, wears large shirts and size eight in footwear, while his wife is a 1XL with a size 10 shoe.
Anyone wishing to make donations, including housewares and toiletries, can do so at 34 Mitchell Dr., Truro Heights, or 1251 Highway 2 in Hilden, apartment 1 or 2, or by calling 902-899-8891.
