A fire, which sent flames soaring into the sky, caused extensive damage to a Lee Avenue home in Cumberland Beach Tuesday night.
Anne Marie Farr, who lives across the street, said she smelled what she thought was a campfire at around 10 p.m. But something didn't seem right, she told OrilliaMatters this morning.
“It didn’t smell good. The wood was really stinky,” Farr said.
About an hour later, Farr’s husband Larry started screaming that a house was on fire. Farr ran out of her house and saw the flames coming out of the roof of the house across the street.
“It was the worst thing I’ve seen in my life,” Farr said.
She said a man and a woman and their child, along with a dog, all got out of the house unharmed.
“They got out and went down the road, so everyone was safe, thank God,” Farr said.
Neighbours reported on social media that the blaze started in a backyard shed.
“Apparently ... he saw smoke coming out (of the shed) and when he opened it, it just blew up.”
Despite efforts to contain the fire, it spread to the home, which quickly became engulfed. Several fire trucks and multiple firefighters from the Severn Township Fire Department were required to bring the fire under control.
“It just kept coming up and wouldn’t stop. The blazing fire was insane,” Farr explained.
Township of Severn Fire Chief Tim Cranney was unavailable for comment Wednesday morning but told OrilliaMatters he would provide details later this afternoon.
We will provide an update when more information becomes available.
