North Sydney fire in abandoned house damages nearby homes

The worst fears of some homeowners in North Sydney were nearly realized when fire in a nearbyabandoned house spread to their properties.

The fire broke out shortly before 2 a.m.at 113 Peppett Street, said Cape Breton Regional Police.

Two otherhouses were badly scorched byflames and sustained an undetermined amount of damage.

A couplein one of the houses, Lorne and CathyBond, toldCBC News theywere woken by a neighbour. They're calling him their hero.

"Lorne was in bed and I was sitting at the computer," Cathy Bond said. "I heard something like a car backfiring and within 10 to 15 minutesour rescuer was at the door, telling us to get out of the house, to get out, get out."

That rescuer was 20-year-old Matthew MacLaughlin, who lives across the street from the Bonds.He says he'sglad he was able to help.

Promises

The abandoned house that caught firehad long been on the regional municipality'slist of derelict and abandoned buildings.

As early as 2010, the owners of the building, Roger and Sherry Taylor, told the municipality theywould clean up and secure the property following complaints.

• CBRM makes slow progress with unsightly premises

Earlier this year, municipal staff sought an order to demolish it, but the Taylorsappealed to council.

They promised they would clean up the property.They also said they were looking for a contractor, andplanning to get a mortgage to renovate the house.

They were given an extension of six months to apply for a building permit and secure and paint the house.

But the Bonds say they never saw any activity at the house after that.

Always on guard

Meantime, the building was a source of constant unease, says Lorne Bond.

"I called 30 times on that place, anyway," he said. "We're not talking every day; we're talking about every three weeks. I would call because there was someone had broke in the house and I knew they were there and the police would catch them and let them go."

There have been other fires at the house, too.

"There was one there about three weeks ago," said Cathy. "We had company and all of a sudden, smoke was everywhere."

The back of theBonds' home was badly damaged by Tuesday's fire. The eaves were burned off the house and some of the windows have hadto be boarded up.

They had no insurance, but Cathy says all their family and friends have already offered to help with repairs.

The house across the street from the fire sustaineddamaged to its vinyl siding.

One firefighter suffered a burn on his hand when he removed a glove too close to the heat.

The fire is under investigation by police and the fire marshall. Acause hasn't been determined.