Damage is estimated at $450,000 and two pets have died as the result of a fire at a house on Edwards Street in Rockland on Sunday afternoon.
The Clarence-Rockland Fire Department responded at 12:21 p.m. to the blaze. Ottawa Fire Services also responded with two trucks at the fire scene and another truck to respond to other calls in Clarence-Rockland if necessary.
The single occupant of the house was not inside at the time of the fire, according to Clarence-Rockland Fire Chief Brian Wilson. However, there were reports of two pets on the second floor.
“Fire crews attempted to make entry into the house to rescue the pets, conduct a search, as well as extinguish the fire, but were driven back due to high heat and fire conditions,” said Wilson.
Firefighters were at the scene from 12:25 p.m. Sunday until 10:15 p.m. that night. In the mid-afternoon, flames could be seen shooting from the roof of the house and smoke was visible while approaching Rockland from the west on Highway 17.
The house was also home to a business called Minou Facial Symmetry. Chris Barber of Ottawa called the owner of the business a part of his family and said she is his son’s godmother. Barber has started a go-fund-me campaign online in support of the owner to help her rebuild her business. As of 5 p.m. on Monday, $7,450 had been raised toward the $10,000 goal. Donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/minoru-facial-symmetry?fbclid=IwAR35gWV7_J8BQKYAqOkYbdFnuuECfLhmLFOwxw5pDGxOasAWpSFtKSY98KQ
Clarence-Rockland and Ottawa firefighters at the scene of a fire on Edwards Street in Rockland on Sunday. Photo: James Morgan
