At least 8 houses catch fire in Témiscaming
Fire on Anvik Street has affected at least 8 homes; another 10 have been evacuated
At least eight houses caught fire in Témiscaming, in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec, before noon Sunday.
The fire on Anvik Street affected at least eight homes. Another 10 were evacuated.
No one was seriously injured, but some people who had inhaled smoke went to the Centre Multiservices de Santé et de Services Sociaux de Témiscaming-Kipawa, a nearby health centre.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. It happened on a street where the residences are very close together, which accelerated the fire.
"The heat doesn't help us," said Temiscaming fire Chief Pierre Bélanger. "All these building are over 80-years-old. They're stuck together, so we didn't have much access."
Forty firefighters from the Temiscaming, Ville-Marie and Kebaowek fire departments were called to fight the fire.
Incendie majeur à Témiscaming <br>8 résidences sont la proie des flammes. Une trentaine de pompiers sur place <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rcat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rcat</a> <a href="https://t.co/1CaGBsjjtf">pic.twitter.com/1CaGBsjjtf</a>
—@TanyaNeveuThe Red Cross is inviting people who were evacuated to go to Le Centre, a sports complex on Humphrey Street.
The city has opened an emergency response station to accommodate those affected by the fire. A call to collect clothing, blankets and other personal products for the victims was also put out.
A watering ban and boil water advisory were also issued to residents.
With files from Radio-Canada