Authorities are currently looking into the death of a man who was found deceased in a fire that occurred Thursday morning in the western part of Saint John. The man, aged 59, was discovered by firefighters while they were combatting a fire at a three-story building located on Guilford Street. Chief Rob Nichol of the Saint John Fire Department reported that five firefighters sustained injuries during their efforts to extinguish the blaze. Emergency responders were notified of the incident around 10:25 a.m., as stated in a news release from the Saint John police on Friday.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered dense smoke and intense fire conditions, as highlighted by Nichol. He mentioned that the weather, fire intensity, and the architectural structure of the building posed considerable challenges. Although the fire was contained by approximately 2 p.m., crews remained on-site to address any remaining hot spots. The building suffered significant damage and is currently uninhabitable, according to Nichol. The exact number of individuals affected by the fire in the multi-unit building remains unknown.
An investigation involving the police, provincial fire officials, and the New Brunswick Coroner Services is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.