Cape Breton family experiences another loss

A well-known Maritime family, that has dealt with many challenges over the years, faced another tragedy Monday morning after their North Sydney home was engulfed in flames.

Brian Young had just finished putting his cat out on the back deck when a fire broke out and spread quickly.

"As I was dialing 911, I could see the smoke rolling across the ceiling. That's how quickly everything happened. So we just went out the side door. The flames were just engulfing everything at that time. The fire chief said 'you were lucky to get out,’” says Young.

The home is dear to the Young’s because it is where Brian’s daughter, Carmen, grew up and spent most of her life.

Carmen’s story captured the hearts of Canadians more than 20 years ago.

She received a double-lung transplant and became a champion for organ and tissue donation before she passed away in 1992.

Still, her memory is helping the family keep everything in perspective.

“When Carmen died, that was a major upset. Couldn’t be anything more upsetting in your life than something like that happening. So everything else is less significant," says Young.

The Young’s are now awaiting word on whether their home can be salvaged.

No word yet on the cause, but investigators will be examining the scene carefully given a string of suspicious fires in the area in recent weeks.

"Given the events in the surrounding area where there are so many fires, we're paying a bit more attention to this. Just to make sure,” says North Sydney Fire Department Chief, Lloyd MacIntosh.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald