What was supposed to be a time of celebration turned upside down for one Tecumseh family.
A fire ripped through their home in the 300 block of Manning Road on New Year’s Day, causing an estimated $350,000 in damages. The family wasn't home at the time, but Tecumseh fire officials say it's a hard lesson that others should be aware of.
“There was a lot of smoke damage, the entire structure was puffing smoke from every window, every opening," says Art Lounsbury, deputy chief of the Tecumseh Fire Department. "We knew it was down in the basement fire, but it did flash over to the second storey."
A cat was rescued from the blaze and was resuscitated thanks to a donated oxygen tank designed specifically for pets.
Officials say the fire erupted in a wood burning fireplace and quickly spread. Neighbours say a passerby noticed smoke billowing out of the home and called police.
“It got out of the fire box and into the stack of wood and started to burn the wood freely on the floor of the home, which burned up the ceiling of the basement," says Lounsbury.
The owner told fire officials he's owned the fireplace for over 23 years, but he's never had it inspected.
“It's an unfortunate lesson,” says Lounsbury. “It is a good idea if you're burning natural wood in it to get it inspected yearly and get it cleaned because it all adds up.”
