Two dead, dozens homeless after fires destroy homes in three Nova Scotia communities just days before Christmas

Two people died in one of three house fires that happened less than 20 hours apart across mainland Nova Scotia to start the weekend.

New Glasgow police say two people were found dead in a two-unit building that caught fire on Pleasant Street on Saturday afternoon. The fire broke out shortly before 2 p.m. in the two-storey converted home. Firefighters from New Glasgow, Stellarton and Trenton spent most of the afternoon at the site.

Const. Ken MacDonald said the victims have yet to be identified and were found after the fire was extinguished. Investigators from the police department, RCMP and the provincial fire marshal’s office were still on scene Sunday. investigating.

MacDonald said the medical examiner’s office is helping with the investigation, and no new information is expected to be released in the next couple of days. 

The building was extensively damaged.

MacDonald didn’t know whether both victims were found in the same unit of the building.

Fire chief Ross White said from the scene that crews found light smoke coming from the building when they arrived, “but then found heavy fire when they made entry.”

The fire was burning on the first floor when the firefighters went inside, but it quickly spread upstairs.

White said the building had sawdust for insulation and was of an age and construction style that allowed the fire to move easily to the attic.

The building had been renovated many times, he said.

Some crews were still on the scene at 7 p.m. digging out and extinguishing hotspots.

There was no word on injuries or how many peopel lived in the the two units.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to help families in two southwestern Nova Scotia communities after fires burned their homes Friday night.

A family of six wasn’t home when fire broke out in their house on Highway 201 in Paradise, Annapolis County over the supper hour. Lawrencetown firefighters responded and called in help from several neighbouring departments, but the building was a complete loss.

Michelle Friel owns The Perky Loaf restaurant and bakery in nearby Brickton, and knows the family. She started collecting donations at her shop to help the couple and their four children, aged 12 to 19, in the short term until their insurance kicks in.

“We’re collecting gift cards for food, gas, clothing, and any of their immediate needs,” she said.” Basically, everything these kids and parents are going to need over the next little while.”

The outpouring from the community has been wonderful, she said.

“We’ve had a gentleman call from Annapolis with a three-bedroom cottage, so we’ve given that information to the family, we’ve had a lady call to offer them a full Christmas dinner. The community support is just incredible.”

Meanwhile, residents in and around New Germany were rallying to help a family of four who lost their home on Barss Corner Road after fire broke out shortly after 10 p.m.

New Germany firefighters were assisted at the scene by crews from Northfield and Hemford.

Lunenburg County councillor Michelle Greek said the fire department started collecting donations almost immediately to help the family and will be accepting items at the fire station on Christmas Eve between noon and 1 p.m.

She said a couple and their two sons, aged 16 and three years, lived in the home. Three of them were home at the time and escaped safely.

“We’re aiming for things to help them get by… Nobody wants to lose everything at Christmas time. It’s just devastating.”

Greek said social media posts were made first thing Saturday morning “looking for monetary donations just to get them by and Christmas presents  to the family, especially where they have a three-year-old, just so Christmas isn’t ruined for him.”

She said donations came pouring in.

“I should have known, given how amazing people are especially at this time of year,” Greek said. “In just 12 hours we have more than $7,000 collected.”

There have also been offers of Christmas dinner and donations from several businesses.

“It’s incredible. People are amazing,” Greek said.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started by a relative of the family. It says, someone driving by saw the smoke coming from the house and banged on the door to wake everyone, but they escaped only with the clothes on their backs.

The investigation into all three fires is continuing.