Fire destroyed a house on Valley Street near the Charlottetown Lions Club bingo hall Tuesday night.
Fire broke out about 10 p.m. just as the night of bingo was ending.
It is the home of well-known Charlottetown resident Fred Sauer, a man who loved to invent and create many items to help neighbours and residents from his vast collection of knick-knacks and hardware pieces that he collected and saved.
A few decades ago he had attempted to convince the provincial government to renew his motorcycle license despite having lost one arm to an accident.
He invented a complete system to operate a motorcycle using only one arm and hand, but he was ultimately unable to obtain a license.
SLIDESHOW: Fire on Valley Street
Sauer and his dogs escaped from his home uninjured, resting in a fire support and tactical truck as firefighters battled the blaze around them.
Thick smoke poured from the home as firefighters tried to target the source. Fire-fighting foam was poured into the basement. Holes were cut in exterior walls with chainsaws to create a path for water streams from the many pumper trucks at the scene.
A smell of smoke hung over the city in the still night air. A crew from Maritime Electric arrived to cut power to the scene to prevent electrical problems at the home. There was no imminent threat to nearby property.
Both Station One and Station Two of Charlottetown Fire Services were on the scene. A command centre was set up on Connolly Street beside Spring Park Plaza mall where an ambulance was also stationed and chairs lined up for firefighters to catch their breath.
MORE LATER AS THE STORY DEVELOPS.
Fire destroyed a house on Valley Street near the Charlottetown Lions Club bingo hall Tuesday night.
Fire broke out about 10 p.m. just as the night of bingo was ending.
It is the home of well-known Charlottetown resident Fred Sauer, a man who loved to invent and create many items to help neighbours and residents from his vast collection of knick-knacks and hardware pieces that he collected and saved.
A few decades ago he had attempted to convince the provincial government to renew his motorcycle license despite having lost one arm to an accident.
He invented a complete system to operate a motorcycle using only one arm and hand, but he was ultimately unable to obtain a license.
SLIDESHOW: Fire on Valley Street
Sauer and his dogs escaped from his home uninjured, resting in a fire support and tactical truck as firefighters battled the blaze around them.
Thick smoke poured from the home as firefighters tried to target the source. Fire-fighting foam was poured into the basement. Holes were cut in exterior walls with chainsaws to create a path for water streams from the many pumper trucks at the scene.
A smell of smoke hung over the city in the still night air. A crew from Maritime Electric arrived to cut power to the scene to prevent electrical problems at the home. There was no imminent threat to nearby property.
Both Station One and Station Two of Charlottetown Fire Services were on the scene. A command centre was set up on Connolly Street beside Spring Park Plaza mall where an ambulance was also stationed and chairs lined up for firefighters to catch their breath.
MORE LATER AS THE STORY DEVELOPS.
