Thick Smoke A Challenge In North End Fire

It's a mix that firefighters, police and residents dread...a house fire on a Sunny friday in the North end.

City fire crews responding to 121 Victoria Street just before 1pm to smoke coming from the first floor of a two-story stone building.
Fire Chief Kevin Clifford tells CHSJ News the building has oil tanks in the basement and the thick black smoke rolling out is an indicator there is going to be ignition soon.

He says black, turbulent smoke is under pressure and under heat and it's a sign to them that its about to ignite.

Steve Doussaud and his family are thankful they were not home at the time.

He says it's probalbly deemed a little suspcious just with the rash of fires on Victoria street this summer.

No one was hurt and fire investigators are looking into the cause.

Kids Make Videos To Celebrate Heritage

History is alive and well among our youth--that from Heritage Minister Cynthia Wallace Casey, promoting a competition called Young Citizens in which school-age kids make 3 minute videos promoting our history. 12 New Brunswick students are competing.

Casey tells CHSJ News the kids chose a fascinating array of subjects from local landmarks to epic battles.

To watch the videos and vote for your favourite online click here

VIDEO: Fire At 121 Victoria

 

Breaking News: Crews Venting Fire On Victoria

A large crowd watching firefighters work a fire in a two story brick home on Victoria Street in the north end.

Firefighters are using a chainsaw and an ax on the roof to vent the fire.  A large number of fire vehicles and personnel are on the scene.

Thick grey smoke is billowing from the side of the structure.
People have been living in the building.

Breaking News: Crews Still Fighting Blaze On Victoria

The order has been given for crews to evacuate the fire at 121 Victoria Street. According to early reports the blaze has spread through several floors of the building.

Power Restored in Belleisle Creek

The lights are back on for NB Power customers in the Belleisle Creek and Sussex area.

The power outage lasted for several hours this morning. 

Provincial Organ Donation Is Restored

The provincial organ donation program is once again back in service.

Health Minister Madeleine Dubé says after a conference call with Health Canada they are now again compliant with the national regulations but will have to improve their documentation practices.

Dube adds they are relieved they did not have to refuse a donation in the week that the system was suspended.

Last week, Health Canada inspectors found problems with the way the program collects and manages its documentation including one case in which a piece of information was not obtained about a donor who had a tattoo.

Breaking News: Fire On Victoria Street

The Saint John Fire department responding to reports of a fire on Victoria Street North. 

According to early reports there was smoke issuing from the back of the building and a fire has been found on the basement of 221 Victoria at the corner of Albert and Elgin.

  A vacant, three-storey building at 55-57 Victoria Street burned in a major fire on May 18th.

Hot Summer Temps But No Record Yet

With the gorgeous weather we've been having lately you might be wondering if we've broken any records in New Brunswick...but that isn't the case yet.

Meteorologist Claude Cote tells CHSJ news we'd have to get up to 32 or 33 degrees to break the record for hottest day.

The previous record for July 13, 2012 is 29.7 degrees.

Different Kind Of Home Being Built on Peninsula

Lower heating costs, recycled materials, and sustainability: those are just some benefits of a house Jay and Jen Hannigan are building on the Kingston Peninula. 

Jen Hannigan tells CHSJ News the home is insulated by the earth itself and using mainly recycled materials.

There have been some difficulties because the building doesn't meet code but the Hannigans say they're willing to put in the time and money to get it changed. She says it's an educational exercise and once it's finished they'll welcome members of the community who want to take a look. 

A similar type of home to what they are building can be seen here

Beach Clean Up For Island Gem In The Passamaquody

An island gem in the Passamaquoddy Bay getting a bit of TLC from the Nature Conservancy of Canada....Pendleton Island is a habitat for birds and eagles as well as unique plant-life. 

Shawna Wallace tells CHSJ News one the beaches on the island is covered in styrofoam and debris, and a crew of volunteers will be heading over to the island by boat to clean it up.
 

The conservancy is bringing over volunteers by boat. All spaces are currently filled but for a link to more info on their next excursion click here.

Power Outage in Belleisle Creek

An unplanned power outage in the Belleisle Creek area....according to NB Power, almost 200 customers are effected.

The power company tells CHSJ News crews haven't yet reported back on a cause of the outage. No word yet on when power will be restored.

4300 Donors Needed

Canadian Blood Services needs 4,300 more donors to book an appointment and donate blood between Monday and August 6th.

You are urged to help top-up the blood supply at local blood donor clinics before heading on vacation.

Director of Donor and Clinic Services Peter MacDonald says they need over 300 appointments in New Brunswick to keep up with hospital demand.

He adds if you made an appointment, please honour it.   Right now only 60 per cent of blood donors actually show up for their appointments.

To book an appointment click here or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

Two Crack-Ups & The Prowlers Are Back

City fire crews responding to two separate vehicle collisions early last night.

A crack-up on Loch Lomond road sent two to hospital to be checked out shortly after 6.

About 20 minutes later, crews responding to another collision at Golden Grove road and Land road.
This one also involving two vehicles but the people were treated at the scene.

The car prowlers are at it again.    City police report some car breaks on the East side this morning in the Loch Lomond road area.

You are encouraged to lock your vehicles and remove the valuables or keep them out of sight.

Warning: Lepreau Could Be Another Fukushima

Lepreau could be another Fukushima....that from Sharon Murphy of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. Murphy says there's a pattern of ignoring the safety issues because there's so much money to be made...but the risks are impossible to ignore. 

She tells CHSJ News Lepreau has many of the same red flags that led to that disaster, and it's especially concerning that the plant has been proven unable to hold up under any sort of seismic event.

Murphy says the Conservation Council is simply using science its attempt to prevent the re-opening of the plant this fall.

Breaking News - Man In Hospital With Electrical Burns

(Courtesy Google Street View)

A man has been rushed to hospital with burns after coming in contact with a live electrical line on Highmeadow Drive this afternoon - emergency and Saint John Energy crews rushed to the scene shortly after 3.
There are reports the man was working in some kind of hole or man hole when he came in contact with the line.
Worksafe N-B and police are now trying to determine what exactly happened.

Loud Boats Hit With Fines

Roaring around on the water is a major no-no....and you could be hit with a hefty fine if your boat has a loud muffler.

Hampton RCMP warning they have received complaints about boats with loud mufflers. The District recently issued a $500 ticket to one boat operator.

You could be fined between 250 and 500 dollars depending on the violation.

Tourism Strategy Unveiled During Trolley Tour

Tourism experts, politicians and others getting a chance to see Saint John through the eyes of a tourist. Enterprise Saint John launching its new plan for growth on a special trolley ride to Lily Lake. Enterprise Saint John's Janet Scott tells CHSJ News growing the tourism industry is about changing attitudes, not big bucks. A grassroots approach, says Scott, is the surest means to achieving success.

Scott says major priorities include extending the tourism season, improving communication about events, and revamping the Trade and Convention Center.

RCMP Recover Body From The Gorge

A body has been pulled from a swimming hole in Musquash known as "the gorge".

RCMP responding yesterday to a report of a man who jumped from a road bridge and didn't resurface.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight tells CHSJ News the body of a 22-year-old man from Nigeria was found this morning by the RCMP Underwater Recovery Teams from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The man was a student at UNB Saint John and his name is not being released until his family has been notified.

Two Ships To Visit Saint John

Saint John is the site of a Port visit by two Canadian ships beginning tomorrow.

HMCS Brunswicker is hosting the HMCS Goose Bay and the HMCS Kingston until Sunday at Long Wharf.

Lieutenant Marc Brown tells CHSJ News they will be to rest and reconnect with Saint John.

The ships have already made stops in Norfolk, Baltimore and Boston before coming to Saint John.

Brown adds the ships will be open to visitors on Saturday from 1-4pm.