By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Two significant fires broke out this week in the Eastern Townships—one on the international border in Stanstead and another near Lake Lovering in Magog—drawing coordinated responses from multiple fire departments. No injuries were reported in Stanstead, while the presence of an ambulance was confirmed in Magog.
The more complex of the two occurred Wednesday night at a border-straddling apartment building on Lee Street in Stanstead. According to Dany Brus, a regional fire chief and spokesperson for the response, emergency services received the call at 10:03 p.m., at the same time as the Derby Line Fire Department across the border in Vermont.
“The building sits right on the line—part of it in Canada, part in the U.S.,” said Brus. “We were fighting the same fire.”
Crews from Stanstead, Derby Line, and Newport responded quickly. Upon arrival, they found the fire had already spread from the back porch into the first and second floors and the roof. “It was quite violent at first,” Brus said.
The effort was led by Stanstead Fire Chief Chris Goodsell, who managed the scene alongside U.S. counterparts. About 40 to 50 firefighters worked in tandem to contain the fire to the section of the building where it started. “The crews did an amazing job stopping and containing the fire so it didn’t spread to the other half,” said Brus.
The fire caused heavy damage to two units of the seven-apartment complex. Fortunately, all occupants—American residents—had been evacuated before firefighters arrived, thanks to quick-thinking neighbours who heard an explosion and raised the alarm. “Everybody was out when we showed up,” said Brus. “Thanks to good neighbours who heard the boom and got people out of bed.”
The origin of the fire is still under investigation. Residents reported hearing an explosion, possibly from a propane tank or barbecue on the back porch. “We think it might be a propane tank, but that’s just speculation at this point,” Brus noted.
