Update as of 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 25:
More details are trickling out regarding a serious fire in Trenton on Friday.
Fire Chief John Whelan tells Quinte News that the likely cause is an electrical issue in one side of the duplex and that it is also likely accidental in nature.
Fire fighters were back on the scene Saturday morning to assess the damage and determine a cause with a technical investigator who is brought in on matters suspected to be related to electrical issues.
Whelan said that, thanks to an investment into CCTV cameras by the City of Quinte West, they were able to access footage of the area and discovered that the fire burned for nearly 20 minutes unnoticed before a passerby saw and made a call.
He confirmed that the duplex is total loss and will need to be knocked down and that the estimated cost of the damage is $400,000.
Original story below:
Quinte West firefighters battled a fully involved blaze at a duplex in Trenton Friday afternoon.
Firefighters received numerous calls at approximately 3:15 p.m. for a fully involved fire at 198 Dundas St. East in Trenton.
When firefighters arrived the duplex was fully ablaze and threatening to spread to a nearby building and they jumped right into action.
Initial reports indicated one side of the duplex had a man, woman and a nine-month-old baby inside and the other a man and a dog.
Upon further investigation it was determined that the man, woman and child were not inside and that the man and the dog had gotten out safely.
There were no injuries reported.
Firefighters were on scene for approximately five hours battling the flames while OPP shut down the road.
The house is a total loss and there has not been a cause determined yet.
Firefighters will be back on scene Saturday morning to investigate further.
(Photo: Submitted)
