Pembroke house fire displaces family

In the middle of one of the worst storms in the Ottawa Valley in recent memory, members of the Pembroke Fire Department (PFD) responded to a report of a structure fire late Saturday evening.

Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on May 21, the PFD arrived at a residence located on Dunlop Street in the central core of the city.

The house belonged to a family of six, including four children, who were displaced due to the damage to the home.

“On arrival, heavy smoke was visible throughout the house,” Scott Selle, Pembroke fire chief said in a press release. “Firefighters entered the home, conducted a search for occupants and ensured no one was in the house. It was confirmed shortly after that no one was home at the time of the fire. Tragically, the family lost their pet.”

Although the fire was knocked down quickly, there was extensive damage to the home due to the fact it had been burning undetected for an extended period of time, resulting in the family not being able to return until the next day to assess the damage. 

A total of 13 firefighters, full-time and volunteer, worked to bring the blaze under control. The PFD's pumper and aerial trucks were utilized at the scene.

Members of the Renfrew County Paramedic Service and the Ontario Provincial Police attended and provided support to the PFD.

Ottawa River Power Corporation also provided assistance at the scene.

Selle said the members of the PFD were continuing its investigation into the cause and origin of the fire.