'Flames were shooting through the roof': Early morning fire leaves one person dead in New Waterford, N.S.
Miner Avenue in New Waterford, N.S. was blocked with fire trucks Tuesday morning as crews worked to extinguish a fire in a small apartment complex.
“They were hollering for the young fella to jump, jump, but he said 'I can't. I'm stuck'," says Yvon Chiasson, a neighbour.
Chiasson says he heard the commotion at around 5 a.m.
“I got up to use the bathroom and I heard the noise. I looked outside and all of the fire trucks were there and the flames were shooting through the roof.”
According to police, when firefighters arrived one person was found dead inside.
The name, age and identity of the victim has not yet been released. New Waterford Fire Chief Lenny Barrington says it was a stubborn fire to extinguish.
“It's an apartment building. I think there were three apartments, two that were lived in and one was being renovated," says Barrington.
Fire departments from both New Waterford and Scotchtown were on scene for most of the morning.
The fire marshall's office says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“We had fellas trying to enter the building, but something was blocking the door. I don't know if it was a bureau or what, but they finally did get in," says Barrington.
The body of the deceased has been sent to the Medical Examiner's office to confirm identity and cause of death.
The usually quiet neighbourhood was shaken Tuesday and in disbelief.
“Everybody is kind of down in the dumps, especially when a life is lost," says Chiasson.
Police say further information will be released as it becomes available.
For now, people in the neighbourhood are still trying to come to terms with an early morning tragedy that has left an unsettling feeling in the community.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.