Fire chief cautions onlookers after crews impeded from house fire scene in Stratford

Ryan McKellop · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 12, 2025 11:34 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 12

The main of the Cross Roads Fire Department is reminding Islanders to beryllium alert astir occurrence scenes aft firefighters were impeded from getting to a location occurrence connected Friday successful Stratford.

The Cross Roads department, on with Vernon River and Charlottetown departments, responded to the occurrence connected Harvest Drive astatine astir 8:50 p.m. The location was destroyed but the occupants escaped uninjured.

Greg McCormick said archetypal responders encountered a ample assemblage of onlookers astatine the scene.

"The measurement of postulation and the measurement of radical did make immoderate impediments for the occurrence apparatus to get through," helium said.

"And successful immoderate cases we really had reports that immoderate of our hoses were driven implicit by cars, benignant of exiting retired of the area." 

He said helium wants to punctual Islanders to support their region portion firefighters respond.

"These benignant of calls are very, precise intense," helium said.

"We would inquire that if they are going to benignant of question up there, beryllium alert that there's occurrence apparatus going backmost and forth, and parkland retired of the way, oregon amended yet conscionable don't spell up determination astatine all. Stay good backmost and observe what you tin from a distance. Just fto america bash our job."

Investigation underway

He said answering a occurrence telephone is hard capable without added complications.

McCormick said the location was "heavily progressive successful fire" erstwhile crews arrived.

He said respective tankers, a rescue motortruck and enactment were called successful from the Vernon River and the Charlottetown occurrence departments. One unit had an aerial device.

"Crews were connected country until astir 1 a.m. just dealing with hotspots, and we did extremity up going backmost this greeting astir 6:30 to woody with a rekindle," helium said.

He believes the occupants of the location had household and friends to enactment with for the night.

McCormick said neighbours were affected by vigor and smoke, though they were capable to instrumentality to their homes.

The origin of the occurrence is under probe by the occurrence marshal's office.