Sydney sidewalk heavy garbage catches fire

A pile of televisions, used furniture and other itemsdiscarded from nearby rental unitserupted in flames on a Sydney sidewalk Thursdaymorning.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is in the midst of its annual heavy garbagepick-up, when homeowners place larger household itemsin front of their homes for removal.

At 495 TownsendSt., the pile burst into flames around 11 a.m.

Melinda Matthews, who lives in an apartment nearby,said she panicked. But, when she saw the fire, she said shefilled her big lobster pot with water.

"We threw a bunch of water out on it, and then a big flame came out from the back of the couch and obviously I had to call the fire department to come and put it out."

A police unit arrived at the scene before the fire department.

An officer used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames.

Heavy garbage has been of concern tofire departments around CBRM this spring.The larger trash is aneasy target for would-be arsonists.

Fire departments have said theyalso worry about the close proximity to homes.

Matthews had the same fear this morning.

"I was panicking that the wind could change course and our home would have been burned."

So far, there is no word on the cause.