'Very tough fire' in Moncton displaces tenants

Firefighters had to rescue several people from a blaze that damaged two buildings and displaced tenants in downtown Moncton early Sunday morning.

The city's fire department responded to the corner of Cameron and Dufferin streets shortly after 2 a.m. and found two large homes on fire, with people trapped on the second and third floors, platoon chief Brian McDonald said.

"Firefighters raised ladders to immediately rescue the trapped civilians," McDonald said in an interview.

RCMP and Ambulance NB were also on the scene, and everyone was safely rescued and treated by paramedics, he said. He couldn't comment on the conditions of those rescued.

The blaze spread through the attics of both homes, causing substantial damage. It took two hours to bring the fire under control.

"It was a tough fire, a very tough fire to fight," McDonald said. "The firefighters did exhaustive work to put the fire out. It's very challenging to fight fire in these older homes."

One of the homes was partially vacant and the other had been converted into several smaller apartments and was fully occupied, McDonald said. He didn't know the exact number of displaced tenants.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. McDonald couldn't comment on whether there was a suspected cause.

NB Power first cut off power to the entire neighbourhood, then isolated the two homes after the fire was extinguished, he said.

The Red Cross was also on scene to assist the displaced tenants.