Flames could be seen in the first floor of a three-story building on Sewell Street in Saint John, as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
The first crews to arrive on the scene found both heavy smoke and fire coming from that first floor of 75 Sewell Street, which is where the fire broke out, we’re told.
Crews on scene of a fire on Sewell St. Smoke billowing from top floor window. Flames can be seen inside first floor. pic.twitter.com/Sq2ZxBFW2r
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) August 25, 2016
Fire chief Kevin Clifford says their initial reports were that at least two people were inside, but that turned out not to be the case. He says when he arrived on the scene one of his crew members was kicking in a door — there were also broken windows on the first floor of 75 Sewell.
“It’s good to sit here now, after the fact and say well there wasn’t [anyone inside],” says Clifford. “But at the time that you get that report everything is about urgency and everything is about dealing with the fact that we may have some people that have significant amount of duress in their lives.”
There haven’t been any injuries reported.
Fire chief Kevin Clifford: initial reports were that people were inside bldg, turned out there weren’t. No injuries. pic.twitter.com/AW6PK0EdX6
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) August 25, 2016
“The big thing today is it’s really humid,” says Clifford. “The level of exertion in an interior structure fight is tremendous…the big thing is to get our crews in and out, get them rehabbed, get them water, nourishment…”
When we spoke with Chief Clifford he said they didn’t believe fire had extended to the attached building.
There will be some people displaced.
Police tape is being put up at the scene of the fire. pic.twitter.com/Ad5EhDKYpq
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) August 25, 2016
