One person remained unaccounted for after a fire destroyed two homes and heavily damaged a third on Penrith Avenue in Cumberland Saturday.
Fire and utility crews remained on scene Saturday morning, sifting through the smouldering rubble of a two-storey house at 2753 Penrith, as the investigation continued.
“At about 3 a.m. [Saturday. Dec. 9] the call came in regarding a house fire,” said Cumberland deputy fire Chief Craig Windley said Saturday. “We called mutual aid, as there were three structures involved. We had Courtenay [Fire Department] come in, and about 20 firefighters battling the blaze. The guys all did an excellent job containing it to where it was.
“Unfortunately, we lost the main structure [2753], which was was fully involved by the time we got here. The second structure [2755 Penrith Ave.] is also gone and probably the third [2751].”
The occupant of the main structure, 2753, had not been accounted for as of Saturday morning.
“Unaccounted for at this time,” said Windley. “We don’t know where he is - he could be at a friend’s… we don’t know at this time.”
Windley added the residents of 2751 were not home at the time of the fire. The occupants of 2755 – a mother and young child - were home, but escaped safely.
“At this time, we don’t know how the fire started. It’s still under investigation,” said Windley.
