Pets perish in blaze as Dumfries and Nackawic Fire Departments respond
A young family lost everything, including four pets (two dogs, a cat, and a snake), in a devastating house fire near Davidson Lake on Sunday, July 5. Just a couple of months ago, the same family tragically lost their husband and father in a crash in the Grand Bay area.
In April, father and husband Jeffrey Caterini died after a highway accident, leaving behind his wife Allison and two young sons, Jaxson and Logan.
Marco Boonstoppel, Chief of the Dumfries Fire Department, said the call came in around noon on Sunday. A 15-member contingent from the Dumfries and Nackawic Fire Departments responded, but the house was fully engulfed by the time they arrived.
Boonstoppel said the extreme heat and high winds didn’t help the situation. He said the structure was a total loss. Crews didn’t leave the site until between 5 and 6 p.m. that afternoon.
Boonstoppel, who was in Fredericton when the call came in, lives directly across from the home and was worried it might be his house and farm. He said the Caterini family had just left the home about 20 minutes before the call came in, which showed how quickly the home became engulfed.
He said there was lots of heavy smoke.
Boonstoppel thanked community members who stepped up and walked his backyard to make sure embers from the fire didn’t reach his farm.
He also said the Dumfries Fire Department appreciated the mutual aid provided by the Nackawic Fire Department. He said that with these agreements in place, they try to provide the best service they can.
There will be a community fundraiser for the family on Friday, July 10. Read more here:
