RCMP investigating cause of Smith's Cove fatal house fire

53-year-old man found deceased, 67-year-old woman was able to escape the blaze

The firefighting response and effort was huge, but the ultimate outcome was terribly sad.

The RCMP says it is investigating a fatal house fire that occurred in Smith's Cove, Digby County, on April 14 in which a 53-year-old man from Smith's Cove was found deceased inside the home.

Numerous fire departments and the Digby RCMP responded to the fire at 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, on the East Old Post Road in Smith's Cove. Upon arrival, the residence was fully engulfed in flames.

“A 67-year-old woman suffering non-life threatening injuries managed to escape the home was taken to hospital by EHS,” an April 15 RCMP release reads. “Due to the severity and unsafe conditions from the damage, a 53-yearold man from Smith's Cove was later found inside the home late in the evening and was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

The RCMP is investigating the cause of the fire, with assistance from the Nova Scotia Office of the Fire Marshal and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner's Office.

“The cause of the fire has not been determined, the investigation is ongoing,” reads the April 15 release. “Our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this difficult time.”

On Friday, the Canadian Red Cross said it was providing assistance to the woman who escaped the fire and who required hospital treatment for burns.

“The woman is being helped by a Canadian Red Cross volunteer with emergency purchases like clothing, food and some other essential needs following release from hospital (Friday) morning,” stated a media release. “She's staying with a relative in the area while she awaits additional support through insurance.”

According to the Dahl Dispatch Facebook page, 13 fire departments from four counties – Digby, Annapolis, Queens and Lunenburg – were dispatched as a result of fire. Fire crews were on the scene all afternoon and into the evening. Smith's Cove and Bear River firefighters responded back to the scene later on, around midnight, to deal with a flare up.

The Smith's Cove Fire Department posted this message on its Facebook page:

“We wish to extend a huge ‘Thank You' to each and every single fire department that helped us directly or helped neighbouring departments by offering mutual aid coverage while aiding us. We wish to say Thank You to Digby Dispatch and Valley Dispatch as well as RCMP, EHS, Nova Scotia Power, Department of Transportation and the Traffic Control Providers who came on site to assist, as well as Versatile Excavation for providing Excavation Services. Thank you to all the firefighters for devoting their time to help us fight this fire. To the family and friends affected by this, fires are never easy, never easy to lose a home and our thoughts go out to you all at this time.”

The loss of life also weighed extremely heavy on the department, as it did in the community.

On Saturday, Fire Chief

Josh Snyder made a post to the Smith's Cove community.

“Now that we've had a little time to digest what happened a few days ago, I want to say it pains us and breaks our hearts as volunteers to have what happened happen,” he wrote. “From the moment the pager went off to the time water was flowing, folks, it was 100 per cent beautifully executed. Less than 7 minutes to be flowing water onto that structure.”

But it was a big fire and the danger kept firefighters from being able to go inside.

“Thursday wasn't easy. It still isn't easy and it won't be easy going forward. If you have first responders in your back pocket, thank them or check in. It helps,” the chief wrote. “Remember, we aren't paid to do this. We risk our lives because we care for our communities. We ask for support and push hard for fundraising because we want to give our best back to you, those we love and care for.”

“I'm truly sorry to the family and friends who lost a loved one,” he wrote. “Our thoughts and prayers to all.”

Following the fire, messages of thanks to firefighters and messages of condolence for the loss of life were being posted by the public on social media.

There have been several fatal house fires in the province in recent months. Other recent ones have included a Feb. 25 house fire in St. Croix, Hants County and a March 17 fire in Pinkney's Point, Yarmouth County. In both of those cases there was one deceased person located.

On Feb. 19 a woman and three children died in a house fire in Auburndale, Lunenburg County.