NOLALU, Ont. — The chief of Nolalu Emergency Services says a resident of the community southwest of Thunder Bay is lucky to be alive after a chimney fire in a local residence on Tuesday.
Firefighters were asked to do a medical wellness check on a 78-year-old man who hadn't been feeling well.
They arrived at about 10 a.m. and observed him unresponsive through a window, with smoke filling the house.
The crew broke a window to gain entry and perform the rescue, then provided medical care until paramedics arrived.
Chief Sarah Shoemaker said the man is expected to make a full recovery, but he was fortunate.
"I'm just happy that we were in the right place at the right time. Fifteen, even 10 minutes later, and the results could have been drastically different," said Shoemaker, who was one of the first responders who answered the call.
She added "Firefighters are trained to be prepared for anything, but arriving on a scene to provide a medical wellness check, and instead finding visible smoke in the residence, isn't something anyone expects."
All members of Nolalu's emergency team are trained as both medical first responders and firefighters.
Shoemaker said the chimney fire was dealt with quickly, with no spread to the rest of the residence.
