Authorities are currently conducting an investigation following the discovery of a deceased man in a fire that occurred Thursday morning on the western side of Saint John. The man, aged 59, was found by firefighters during their efforts to extinguish a blaze at a three-story building located on Guilford Street.
Chief Rob Nichol of the Saint John Fire Department reported that five firefighters sustained injuries while battling the fire. Emergency response teams were alerted to the incident at approximately 10:25 a.m., as confirmed by the Saint John police in a news release issued on Friday.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered dense smoke and intense fire conditions, with Chief Nichol indicating that the adverse weather, substantial fire volume, and the building’s balloon-frame construction posed significant challenges. Although the fire was brought under control by 2 p.m., crews continued to work on the scene to address any remaining hot spots.
Chief Nichol mentioned that the building suffered extensive damage rendering it uninhabitable, and the exact number of individuals displaced from the multi-unit structure remains unknown. The investigation into the incident involves the collaboration of law enforcement, provincial fire investigators, and the New Brunswick Coroner Services.
