Resident and Pet Escapes House Fire in Torbay

TORBAY, NL – On Thursday afternoon, shortly after 3:00 p.m., firefighters with the Torbay Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to a possible residential structure fire on Dunphy's Lane at the corner of Torbay Road in Torbay.

Due to some Torbay fire crews being deployed to assist with the wildfire in Holyrood under a mutual aid agreement, the department responded with fewer members. To assist, firefighters from the Pouch Cove Volunteer Fire Department were called in to support the response in Torbay.

Upon arrival, Torbay firefighters encountered smoke coming from the roof of the home. At the time, it was unclear if anyone was inside the residence. Neighbours who witnessed the flames attempted to contain the fire with a garden hose before fire crews arrived. Once on scene, crews established a supply line and pulled attack lines to begin fighting the fire. Firefighters entered the home to conduct a search and located one male at the window near the door.

A fire official noted challenges in extinguishing the blaze due to the home’s older construction and multiple layers. However, those same features may have played a role in preventing the home from being completely destroyed. The interior sustained little to no damage apart from smoke, while the exterior suffered extensive damage from both fire and water.

Personnel from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, NL Health Services, and NL Power also responded to the incident. Torbay Road near Dunphy’s Lane was temporarily closed as crews worked at the scene.

The lone male resident and a pet cat were able to escape the home and were assessed by emergency personnel.