Fire crews battling a stubborn fire in Trenton Thursday.
Quinte West Fire Chief John Whelan says they responded to 43 Queen Street, between Dundas Street West and Creswell Drive, around 10:45 a.m.
MORE BELOW
Fire was discovered in the basement and on the first floor of the home.
https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/1977/files/2025/10/whelan-1.wav
“Our crews on scene did initial attack. We did a primary search to make sure everybody was out. Unfortunately there’s a couple of dogs in there that we couldn’t get out. Everybody’s accounted for. It got out of control – I had to call everybody out and call in a defensive attack.”
Belleville Fire was then called in to provide support with an aerial truck.
MORE BELOW
Whelan says fires in older homes like these can be very difficult.
https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/1977/files/2025/10/whelan-2.wav
“It’s well over a hundred years old. Six units in it. We just despise this kind of fire. We call it balloon construction. Insulation and newspapers in the walls for insulation so it spreads very rapidly.”
One person suffered from smoke inhalation.
Victim services is providing aid to those displaced.
There is no official estimate of damage yet but Whelan says it is significant and the Ontario Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate the cause.
Queen Street from Wilkins Street to Creswell Drive is closed to traffic until further notice.
