A Cape Breton couple says a fire at a vacant home next door spread to their home, causing severe damage.
Catherine Bond says she and her husband were unaware of what was happening until a neighbour frantically knocked on the door.
"I heard a sound, something like a car backfiring,” said Catherine Bond. “Young Matt from across the street was just pounding on the back door saying 'You got to get out. Get out of the house.'"
The couple and their pets were able to escape unharmed, but their home of nearly 40 years was badly damaged.
The vacant home where the fire started was a write-off when fire crews arrived.
"Classic case of being fully involved upon arrival. Fire right from the sills of the building, right up to the roof.” said Lloyd MacIntosh, Chief of the North Sydney Volunteer Fire Department.
Bond says they don’t have insurance and their home needs $30,000 to $40,000 in repairs.
The fire is being investigated as a possible arson.
"The people that are responsible for this should have a conscience and think of the people next door when they're doing things like this," said MacIntosh.
The pair in their 60s say there have been fires at the same home before, and they feel it should have been torn down long ago.
"We told them over and over again, 'We're tired of fires,' and we knew this was going to happen sooner or later. We knew we were going to get caught in the crossfires."
The building had been slated for demolition, but according to the couple, its owner appealed and was given a six-month extension.
Now they’re left trying to figure out repairs on a fixed income.
"Everybody's offered to help. As far as work that's got to be done, we've got good friends," said Bond.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald.
