Linked Header

Friday, January 3, 2014

UPDATED: Apartment Fire On The West Side

Fire crews spending two hours battling a blaze at an apartment building on the West side. 

City Fire Platoon Chief Peter Saab says they found fire between the ceiling of the basement and the first floor flooring at 562 Edward Avenue. The owner of the building was trying to thaw pipes and ignited some wood in the ceiling. 

The basement apartment sustaining fire, smoke and water damage and there's some slight smoke and water damage throughout the rest of the building. Everyone living in the building was evacuated and no one was hurt.

Don't Leave Pets Outside In These Frigid Temps

With temperatures dipping below minus 30, it's best to stay inside, and the same goes for your pet. 

The Executive Director of the New Brunswick SPCA Hilary Howes tells CHSJ News leaving an animal outside in these extreme temperatures is cruel. He says most animals simply aren't built for this type of weather, and even huskies can become hypothermic in these conditions.

If you see a pet left outside he asks you to not try and rescue it yourself, but to instead call their emergency number: 1-877-722-1522. Once the call is made they dispatch an animal protection officer to go and investigate the complaint.

Howes says their phones were so busy yesterday they had a backlog of calls waiting which he tells us doesn't happen very often.

Some Blood Donor Clinics Cancelled Today Due To Weather Conditions

The Maritime Blood Clinic saying some donor clinics will be closed today because of the weather conditions.
 

The Saint John clinic on 405 University Avenue will stay open today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and tomorrow from  9a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Maritime Blood Clinic says please honour your appointment if you are able to make it in safely. The Moncton Blood Donor Clinic is being closed today, as well as all clinics in Nova Scotia. 


There will be opportunities to donate tomorrow in Moncton when the clinic re-opens from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lancaster Mall Now Open After Evacuation Earlier Today

The Lancaster mall is now open and safe after being evacuated earlier today because of a natural gas leak.

Platoon chief Peter Saab tells CHSJ News, there was an issue with a heating unit on the Wal-Mart roof.

The mall was evacuated because they weren't sure what the situation was at the time, and wanted to avoid natural gas leaks in the rest of the building.

Saint John Fire responding to a natural gas leak at Wal-Mart overnight. Technicians were called in to repair it.


Arrest Made In Hit & Run That Injured Two

A 24 year old woman from Oromocto has been arrested in a hit-and-run in Fredericton that injured two people in the provincial capital.

Around 3 o'clock on January 1, police responded to a hit and run near Brunswick and York Streets. A man and a woman had been hit by a vehicle, which was said to be dark blue, which then took off.

A young woman from Oromocto was arrested. She will appear in court in February to face a charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing bodily harm.

One victim has since been released from hospital, and the other remains in hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.


Stolen Guns, Jewelry & More In Unsolved Break & Enter

The Oromocto RCMP looking for your help solving a break, enter and theft  in Oromocto over the holidays.

Sometime between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, someone broke into a home on Miramichi Road in Oromocto stealing jewelry, electronics and six guns. The stolen guns include two rifles, two shotguns and two handguns. 

The stolen firearms are described as follows:

•Winchester Model 12, 12-gauge shotgun, with a 28" barrel
•Ithaca 20-gauge, double-barrel shotgun
•Ithaca .22-calibre rifle "Saddle Gun"
•Savage 99E, .308-calibre rifle
•Two Para 1911, .45-calibre handguns

The RCMP is asking anyone with information about this incident, or the stolen items, to contact police at 506-357-4300. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information leading to the arrest of those responsible could qualify you for a cash award.

VIDEO: CHSJ News Tests Out The Mpemba Effect

Here's a fun trick to try with the kids at home.

CHSJ News Reporters Julia Wright and Leena Ali decided to test out the Mpemba effect--a.k.a., the idea that "in some circumstances, warmer water can freeze faster than colder water. Although there is anecdotal support for the effect, there is no agreement on exactly what the effect is and under what circumstances it occurs." (Wikipedia). 



Turns out a mug of boiling water, the back parking lot of a local radio station, and a Port City Day with -35 windchill are all the circumstances you need to see the Mpemba effect (pronounced "Ma-pemba") for yourself. For a slightly more scientific explanation of what causes the effect, click here

Try it yourself at home!

Wind Chill & Blowing Snow Warning In Effect

Expect reduced visibility today with a wind chill and blowing snow warning in effect.
 

Claude Cote from Environment Canada says to expect about 10 centimeters of snow. 

"I suspect that driving conditions between Saint John headed towards Moncton on Highway 1 and are probably encountering some reduced viability and blowing snow," he says.

He says right now we're in the brunt of the system, but conditions should improve later this afternoon. Temperatures will remain well below normal and expect a high today of -18 C and winds gusting up to 60 km per hour.