Fire Destroys Multi-Unit Apartment Building in Yarmouth, N.S.
A fire on the morning of Oct. 31 destroyed a multi-unit apartment building at 24 Argyle Street in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. All residents escaped safely but lost their homes and belongings. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, and displaced families are now receiving assistance from the Red Cross and community fundraisers.
A fire destroyed a multi-unit apartment building at 24 Argyle Street in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 31. The fire call came in at 11:08 a.m., and all residents were able to safely flee the blaze. However, the displaced residents lost their homes and all of their belongings.
Responders included the Yarmouth Fire Department, RCMP, EHS, and volunteer fire departments providing mutual aid from Wedgeport, Port Maitland, Lake Vaughan, and Valley and District. Platoon Chief Noah Deveau was in charge of the scene. Acting Yarmouth fire chief Peter Winship described the interior as a maze due to old construction and severe internal cuts, which hindered firefighter access.
A neighbouring home was evacuated shortly before 1 p.m. as a precaution due to strong winds and the risk of fire spread. Nova Scotia Power cut power to the structure shortly before 1 p.m. without requiring a localized area outage. Flames broke through an upper unit window shortly after 1 p.m.
The emergency response also affected local businesses. The Freshmart grocery store closed early because its parking lot was used for the aerial ladder truck and was blocked by emergency vehicles. Streets in the area were closed to traffic.
Firefighters left the scene around 6 p.m. on Oct. 31. They returned the morning of Nov. 1 for a flare-up involving smoke in the basement. The fire marshal’s office was expected to investigate the cause of the fire on Nov. 2.
The Red Cross reached out to those who lost everything to offer assistance. GoFundMe campaigns were initiated to help specific families, including Jade, Vikram, and their 16-month-old son Eshaan, as well as Madeline and her family.