Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue crews remained on scene at a multi-residence fire on Treasure Cove Lane, off County Road 7 in North Marysburgh late Friday afternoon.

A fire started at a residence at the western end of the lane in the middle of a stand of homes and cottages. The flames spread to a neighbouring house. In total, more than six structures (homes, sheds and outbuildings) were lost.

The homes were unoccupied when the fires broke out.

Quick work of local firefighters kept the fire contained to the two properties, or the blaze could have engulfed a handful of cottages and homes along the south shore of the Adolphus Reach. No more than a metre or two separated the second house and the next cottage.

A steady westerly wind hampered firefighting, but crews operating the aerial truck were able to keep direct water to the roof of the next door cottage to keep the fire from spreading.

Before firefighters could reach the scene, neighbourly good nature helped stem the disaster.  Treasure Cove Lane’s George Courtney received a message from one of the home owners, asking him to check on his house after he received text alerts of a fire alarm.

“I stepped outside and instantly smelled smoke,” Mr. Courtney said. “I got down to the end of the lane as quickly as I could but there was nothing I could do.”

Both homes were fully involved by the time fire crews arrived on the scene just before 2 p.m.

Multiple Prince Edward Fire and Rescue stations from Picton, Hallowell and South Marysburgh supplied fire crews and pumper trucks. Despite fronting on shoreline, water supply was an issue for a period time, further hampering the firefighting efforts. Hilly terrain made pumping water from the Adolphus Reach impossible. Eventually, fire crews sourced water from nearby Lake-on-the-Mountain.

Fire & Rescue pumper truck drivers are to be commended for their ability to back into the scene with their vehicles from County Road 7, hundreds of metres along the tiny and meandering Treasure Cove Lane, and deliver water to the aerial truck’s supply tank.

Prince Edward County spokesperson Mark Kerr said damages are estimated at $3 million.  There are no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to provide clarity on the challenges facing fire crews on Friday.)