Raging inferno destroys home

Windsor Junction (D2N) – Fire swept through a home on Carriage Rd. off Charleswood Subdivision in Windsor Jct. on Monday night. Flames shot through the roof of the structure as firefighters fought to put out the blaze. The home was swiftly engulfed by the raging flames and was totally destroyed. No one was home at the time of the fire, and no pets were inside.

The five year old house is owned by Garrett Lane. ”I built the house myself,” he said. “My wife and I lived there for four years. We just built a new home on Second Lake and we decided to rent this one out.” The person who rented it is a recently divorced mom with four children, who was staying there while her new home was being built.
“She was away on a business trip I believe,” said Lane.  “Apparently the Nanny went out with the children but was back home within an hour. As she was going to open the front door, she smelled smoke and felt heat, so she called 911. I feel really bad for her; she has four kids and no where to live.”

Lane said the fire department believes the inferno started from an electrical fire.  “They know it started in the dining room of the house,” said Lane, “and they are pretty sure it was electrical.”

According to Lane, “the fire spread fast. All the treated wood, and the in-floor heating system, well, it was very dry and it went up fast, they (fire officials) said. I was told it was unlikely the fire could have been contained even if the fire department had arrived immediately after it began. The conditions were so dry.” Perfect for a fire. “We were lucky, because it could have been worse, and could have spread to the neighbours; there are a lot of trees surrounding it,” he said.

And the garage, which is separate from the home, was also spared. Firefighters worked tirelessly to keep the fire from spreading there, where some possessions belonging to the woman and her family were being stored until their new home was completed.

Although the house was insured, Lane is not certain if he will be completely covered for his loss or if he might fall a bit short, but according to him, that is small stuff compared to what could have happened. “The main part,”  he said, “is that no one was hurt.”