THUNDER BAY – A Simpson Street resident escaped unhurt after a lit cigarette set a mattress ablaze Wednesday night.
It took several hours for firefighters to fully extinguish the fire, after arriving around 6:30 p.m.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Captain Kevin Anderson said temperatures reaching -30C with wind chill, and the fact the fire established itself in the attic of the bungalow-style home, posed challenges.
“It was a stubborn fire,” he said. “With the cold weather and being in an attic, it took our suppression crews a bit longer to get it out, but they were able to after a few hours.”
An occupant of the home reported ash from a cigarette had sparked a mattress fire, Anderson said.
“He did try to put it out for many minutes, which we strongly do not recommend because the fire was able to grow” he said. “If you ever have a fire in your bedroom or mattress, you should close the door, get outside, call 911, and then we can take care of it.”
The person was able to escape the home with no reported injuries, Anderson said.
The TBFR response included six pumpers and two aerial ladders.
With files from Cory Nordstrom, TBT News.
