Fire in Digby leaves 11 people without homes, building demolished

Eleven people in Digby, N.S., lost their homes in a fire that brokeout Wednesdayin a three-storey building, forcingauthorities to demolish the structure.

The Canadian Red Cross said the fire caused extensive damage to the old structure on Water Street, and the organization's volunteers helped nine of the 11 tenants with emergency lodging, clothing and food.

Robert Morgan, chief of the Digbyfire department,said crews were called to the property just before 2 p.m. on Wednesday and spent nearly three hours trying to tame the blaze.

"We virtually were chasing it from time to time. [There were times] we thought I had it out, and then would pop back out somewhere else," Morgan said, adding that seven fire departments and about 50 firefighterswere at the scene. "It was 100 per centloss."

Part of the building was taken downonce the larger fire was under control, he said. A smaller firerekindled at around 10 p.m.,which was quickly extinguished, he added.

Morgan said no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire is unknownandthe fire marshal would notbe investigating because the building had to bedemolished.

The Canadian Red Cross said the building held many apartments and was previously the home of the now-defunct Digby Courier newspaper.