FOUR MISSING AFTER BLAZE
Fire destroys three-storey log home
By early Monday afternoon, the provincial fire marshal was still on the site of a fire that occurred Sunday night outside Oxford Mills.
According to police, four people are missing after the fire, which occurred at around 6 p.m., destroyed a three-storey log home.
Neighbour Glenn Buchanan identified Bob and Gina Juneau as the only residents of the Stone Road house.
But he indicated that when he noticed the fire and went to investigate Sunday night at around 6:15, there was a third car in the driveway that didn't belong to either of the Juneaus.
“The flames had to be 50 or 60 feet in the air. But I don't understand how they wouldn't have gotten out. There were three doors in the place.”
The Juneaus, he added, “are real good neighbours,” he said. “They'd do anything for you.”
The couple, he guessed, are in their mid-60s and have four children — two sons and two daughters, all in their 30s or older.
Both are retired; Bob is a former carpenter, while Gina worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia, first in Smiths Falls and later in Kemptville.
The couple attended Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kemptville.
According to neighbour Pearl Foster, the Juneaus have lived there for at least 30 years.
“They were really nice people. When my husband passed away, Gina was the first one at my house.”
Another neighbour, Betty Cooper, describes Sunday's fire as a tragedy.
“I'm worried because I don't know if they were there. I still don't know what happened. But I've never seen flames as high in my life.”
Cooper added that she would regularly see the Juneaus out on their daily walks, but that there hadn't been very much interaction since COVID-19.
“This COVID has kept us all in our houses. It's been pretty quiet.
“But they were lovely people. Always a smile on their faces, really, really positive. Just really good people.
“Bobby built that home,” she added. “It was gorgeous.”
Cooper added that Bob's parents, Bob and Bunny, lived just three doors down from Bob and Gina.
John Okum, director of emergency and protective services and fire chief for the municipality of North Grenville, said that about 30 volunteer firefighters were the first responders on the scene.
“Upon arrival, fire crews noted that the structure itself was fully involved. There was heavy flame from all areas of the structure.”
The incident remains under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police and the provincial fire marshal, with the assistance of North Grenville fire authorities.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Grenville OPP on 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.