Fire destroys Old Town home
With no hydrants in neighbourhood, fire crews struggle in vain to save house
Northern News Services
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Long-time Yellowknifer Les Rocher could only look on helplessly as a fire destroyed his home yesterday morning.
Les Rocher looks on helplessly as a fire consumes his home on Ragged Ass Road in Old Town early yesterday morning. Rocher, a longtime Yellowknife land developer, was frustrated as crews had some difficulty getting water onto the fire partly because there are no fire hydrants in Old Town. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
Flames broke out at about 6 a.m. in the home, located on Ragged Ass Road in the Willow Flats area of Old Town. Everyone got out safely.
The house was fully engulfed by the time fire crews arrived. Rocher lived in the home with his wife Sandra Rocher, and two adult children. It is believed that Les and Sandra were the only two people at home when the fire started. There was no word as of press time about what sparked the blaze.
There are no fire hydrants in Old Town because there is no underground water and sewer system there. Crews appeared to struggle somewhat to keep a steady flow of water on the flames. They initially used water from one of their tanker trucks and eventually it appeared as though they were drawing water using a pump from nearby Great Slave Lake. However, there were minutes-long spans where water was not being by sprayed on the fire at all. At one point, the only water dousing the flames was from a tanker truck owned by W.B. Water Service.
W.B. Water Service manager Chris Bromley said he got a call from Les Rocher just after the fire broke out. He drove his water truck over from his shop nearby on School Draw Avenue, arriving minutes after Rocher called.
"We have fire nozzles for our hoses. We don't use them for fires very often," Bromley said. "I was wanting to help out Lester. We've been friends for life."
Bromley said the fire department asked him to stop spraying water on the fire after about 40 minutes because he did not have proper safety equipment.
As fire crews and Bromley were fighting the fire, dozens of neighbours, including Matt Young who lives across the street, gathered outside to watch as firefighters struggled to bring the blaze under control.
"I woke up, we were about to go out for a run, and I looked out the window and saw some smoke and then looked around the corner and saw fire coming out of the eves there," Young said. "I ran down to the door and pounded on the door. Folks were waking up and started to come outside at that point. A number of neighbours gathered around - several people called it in - before long we heard fire trucks coming down."
Young said the fire had him wondering about the risks of owning a home where there are no fire hydrants nearby. He estimates he pays about $200 more a year in homeowner's insurance because of the lack of hydrants. He said his heart goes out to the Rochers because of the substantial loss.
One of their daughters, Lorna Rocher, showed up a few minutes after the fire started.
She was emotional until her neighbours assured her that everyone had escaped safely.
Les Rocher appeared frustrated at the way the fire was being fought but told Yellowknifer he was unable to comment.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the one house. Les's mother, Mary Rocher, lives in the home next door while his sister, Jeannie Rocher, lives two doors down.
