Scugog Island fire leaves families devastated
HORRIFIC BLAZE: TJ the dog (above) is comforted by a Durham police officer, after the family pet escaped a house fire (above, left) that destroyed one home and damaged at least two more on Chandler Dr. on Scugog Island in the early evening of Aug. 29. The blaze could be seen from as far away as Caesarea and beyond (below left, courtesy Lindsay MacKay). RIK DAVIE The Standard
A Scugog family barely escaped with their lives after their home on Chandler Dr. was fully engulfed in flames Monday evening. The Doughty family was preparing for a yard sale in the garage of their Scugog Island home when a fire started in an old lawn tractor in an adjacent shed. The fire spread quickly, leaving Kelly Doughty only moments to take the actions that saved her family and its pets. “I saw the flames and just went, ‘Oh my God!’ to my husband and ran into the house, called 911 and got (her daughter) and our dogs out of the house.” Ms. Doughty and her husband took family members to a neighbour’s home as propane tanks connected to her house exploded. “We realized very quickly that (the neighour’s) house was catching on fire as well and we all got out.” One of the Doughty’s daughters, home from school for the summer, lost track of her little dog TJ, but quick action by a Scugog firefighter and police got the frightened dog just before he ran back into the now fully engulfed house.
“My daughter would have been devastated,” said Ms. Doughty. “I’m so thankful to the firemen and police. We are in shock right now. I even had to borrow a pair of shoes.” Ms. Doughty, a well known former sales manager at The Standard, while insured, is currently living with her family in a borrowed cottage. Local business owners and real estate agents - many of them former clients of Ms. Doughty - are looking for a rental property for the family and an emergency fund is now set up at The Standard offices at 94 Water St. for cash donations and household items. One neighbour, also put out of her home as a result of the blaze, was renting her home and is without fire insurance. As The Standard is made aware of this family’s needs, these will also be relayed to the public, but the woman’s young daughter had more immediate concerns as she sat huddled and frightened on a bench outside The Island Store. “What about my cat?” asked the young girl. “I hope my cat is okay. She’ll be frightened.” The fire, which began sometime around 7 p.m. on Aug. 29, could be seen from several miles away. Investigators have yet to officially state a cause for the blaze. Those wishing to donate anonymously to any of the families affected by the fire can contact Standard Managing Editor Rik Davie at 905-925-5668 at any time.