Two rescued, firefighters injured in Moncton fire

Two firefighters were injured and two people were rescued in Moncton on Wednesday.

Two people were rescued and two firefighters were injured at a fire in Moncton Wednesday morning.

Moncton Fire Department Deputy Chief Keith Guptill said they received a call for a house on fire on Veniot Street around 5:45 a.m.

When firefighters arrived the whole front of the three-storey, multi-unit building was on fire.

Guptill said three or four people had already gotten out of the building, but firefighters were told two other people were still inside.

“We had to rescue someone from the second level with a ground ladder and also had to rescue someone from the third storey bedroom, also with a ground ladder,” said Guptill.

Both were hospitalized with unknown injuries.

Two firefighters were also injured in separate incidents.

“One of them fell down the last few steps of the ladder and landed on the ground and injured his elbow,” said Guptill. “Another one of our officers was inside and he tripped on a bunch of hazards that were in there and injured his knee.”

Guptill said one of the firefighters was treated at the scene and kept working while the firefighter who injured his knee was sent to hospital, but was later released.

“This fire is a little bit out of the ordinary simply because we don’t often have people that we have to rescue,” said Guptill. “Obviously our folks risked themselves, so the two that were injured, they consider that as part of the job, but at the same time they can have the sense of satisfaction that everyone that was on scene today contributed to making a difference in those two victims’ lives.”

A cat was also rescued, but Guptill believes other pets died in the fire.

The building was heavily damaged by fire, smoke and water.

Guptill said the cause is being investigated.

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