Fire on Highway 38 leads to an estimated $400k in damages
A fire at a residence on Highway 38 just north of Kingston closed down the well-used roadway and led to about 11 hours on the scene for local firefighters.
At approximately 11:18 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, Kingston Fire and Rescue crews responded to reports of a structure fire at 2155 Highway 38. There, firefighters found smoke emanating from the northwest corner of the building, a semi-detached bungalow, according to Kingston Fire and Rescue. Luckily, all occupants of the home escaped uninjured.
With crews from Stations #7, #8, and #9 responding to the fire, the roadway had to be closed down to regular traffic. At approximately 11:33 a.m., Kingston Police were also dispatched to the address in order to control traffic and block off the roadway as needed. Police confirmed on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, that their role at the fire was limited solely to assisting with traffic control.
As the fire continued inside the building, firefighters were forced to bring in an excavator to partially demolish the building, Kingston Fire and Rescue explained. This allowed firefighters to access and extinguish all hot spots. Meanwhile, firefighters travelled back and forth from the scene to the City-owned property on Creekford Road near Highway 401 and Highway 38. There, a pumper truck helped to fill the fire trucks so they could return to the scene and continue to knock down the flames.
Firefighters remained on scene until approximately 10:30 p.m., when the fire was “deemed to be fully extinguished,” Kingston Fire and Rescue said in an email response to Kingstonist inquiries. Due to the necessary demolition, the cause of the fire remains unknown, “as a full investigation was unable to be completed.”
“Kingston Fire & Rescue would like to remind residents to ensure adequate clearance is provided between combustible materials and any heating sources, and ensure working smoke alarms are installed on every storey of their homes,” the local fire department relayed.
The estimated cost of damages due to the fire is $400,000, Kingston Fire and Rescue said, noting that the other unit, located at 2153 Highway 38, “remained vacant at the time of scene release to the building owner” and was unaffected.