Cape Breton community rallies around family after house fire sends young boy to hospital

Community helps NS family after house fire A child was hospitalized after a house fire in Cape Breton on Wednesday.

People in a Cape Breton community are rallying around a family after a house fire sent a young boy to hospital and injured another earlier this week.

First responders went to a house fire on Commercial Street in Dominion, N.S., around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday where some of the people who lived in the home were trapped inside.

John Lynk, chief of the Dominion Volunteer Fire Department, says about 30 firefighters from four departments spent roughly five hours putting out the fire.

“We witnessed heavy smoke conditions upon arrival,” said Deputy Chief David MacLeod with the Dominion Volunteer Fire Department. “If it wasn’t for our help with Reserve and Glace Bay (and Sydney), it would have been a long night fighting the fire there. So, we have to thank them for helping.”

Lynk says a 13-year-old boy is in a Halifax hospital after being injured in the fire. He adds, although the boy suffered smoke inhalation, from what he has heard, his condition seems to be improving.

“It was touch and go for a while, but he’s doing very, very well right now,” Lynk said. “It’s looking very promising.”

Staff at the local Credit Union witnessed the fire from across the street.

They have now set up an account collecting donations for the family, largely through e-transfer.

“We heard the family lost absolutely everything and they had five children, and a grandmother who lived in the home, so we wanted to help out as a community,” said Sami Fowler, who works at the Dominion Credit Union. “[e-mail] is the email that we’re taking funds for, if anyone wants to donate to this family that needs absolutely everything.”

The fire chief says a benefit dance for the family will be held at The Sandbar Restaurant and Lounge in Dominion on Jan. 18.

Lynk said the other person who was in the home suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover.

He adds it’s been emotional watching the community come together to help the family during such a difficult time.

“Heartwarming is the exact word,” Lynk said. “It’s just unbelievable, at a time like this, they just stick together so much.”

The fire marshal’s office is looking into the cause.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.