Witnesses say he got the people out just after 5:30 a.m., and then began to fight the fire with a garden hose for about 20 minutes before St. John’s firefighters arrived on the scene. No one The Telegram spoke to could identify the person.
At least eight people, including four children were left without a home by the time the fire was out.
The building is operated by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Authority, which arranged temporary hotel lodging and is looking for other available units for the two families most affected by the fire.
Area resident Clarence Evans says he witnessed a man getting people out of the homes. He said the man used a garden hose to try to knock down some of the flames until St. John’s firefighters arrived.
Asked if the man was a hero, Evans replied, “Oh, definitely.”
Firefighters, paramedics and police arrived at the scene around 5:45 a.m., to find flames and smoke shooting out of the townhouse.
St. John’s Regional Fire Department Platoon Chief Rick DeHann said firefighters attempted to enter after initial reports of people inside, but were pushed back by flames. After ensuring everyone was out of the building, firefighters began to knock down the flames from the outside and gain entry to battle the blaze.
DeHann confirmed no one was in the burning structure, part of a 10-unit building. Two homes received significant damage, and two others adjacent likely received smoke and water damage, he said.
Youth Liam Dunn, who lives in the area, says he saw the whole thing. After hearing the racket, he ran from his home to find a man trying to battle the blaze with a garden hose.
“When I came out the fire was started and was really bright and was pushing and spreading a lot.
“Then when the fire department got there, there was this guy with a hose trying to put it out. He was working on it about 20 minutes. Then the fire department started it and it took them maybe an hour or more to put it out ... and it was spreading to the next house.
“After that everyone just started freaking out, saying what are we going to do now?
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Early morning fire in St. John’s leaves Portia Place residents in the cold
“We couldn’t find the person who was in the house. No one knew where she was.”
People were scrambling to get out of the row of homes affected, witnesses said and
residents of the street were anxiously trying to find out if all people were accounted for.
Liam said the woman who they feared was missing returned more than an hour after the fire was out and was devastated.
“When she came back she just bawled… she just started crying.”
Liam said the whole side of his row of town houses was evacuated.
“I haven’t been inside my house since 5:45 this morning,” he said. “I’m freezing.”
Reminded he could get a blanket from a Salvation Army van nearby, he said he was ok.
“But it’s really nice of them to be here, and help out.” he said.
A young man seated on an empty pet carrier who lived in one of the homes did not want to give The Telegram his name, but confirmed no one was in the building during the fire. He said his two cats were missing.
Disaster volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross provided emergency purchases of clothing and food for a woman and two children from one townhouse, and two women and two children who lived in the other. Similar help is being arranged for at least one woman from an adjoining unit that received some smoke and water damage.See related video on The Telegram website.
@TelyDeb
