Two nights ago, I stayed up late to work on my computer. As I may have mentioned in a previous post, my house is close to Lake Scugog and the window in my home office looks out east, over the lake.
Some time shortly after 2:30 am, I heard what I thought was a snowmobile travelling towards my location from the east at a high rate of speed. Then, the motor slowed to an idle for a moment – probably right at the intersection where my place is – before zipping off again, headed west. I remember how loud the sound was, piercing the quiet of the night, and thinking to myself, “what a jerk”, as I continued working. I didn’t look out the window, as it’s not that unusual to hear snowmobiles or ATVs zooming around on the lake at night, I was just mildly annoyed at having my concentration broken.

Yesterday, we learned that a century home, located two blocks southwest of here, burned to the ground during the night. Two people have been confirmed dead, and a third person connected with the home is still missing. As well, two pets perished in the blaze. The fire department was hampered in their attempts to enter the building as the home was completely engulfed, and the roof and one wall had collapsed. I read that a witness heard a smoke alarm going off as they watched the house burn.
Today, I read in the local news that officials are searching for a man who was driving an ATV and had alerted nearby residents to the blaze. I can only assume it was the same person whose engine I heard that night. Perhaps he had been able to see the smoke or flames from out on the lake. I don’t recall hearing any sirens during the night, and maybe because he didn’t either, he knew he was the only person who could alert somebody to the tragedy unfolding. I left a message at the police department this afternoon, relating what I’d heard that night. Even though I didn’t see anything, I thought the information may be helpful to them if they are trying to place where this man had come from. He apparently did not remain at the scene, but I can say that it was extremely cold . . . not a time you’d want to remain outside . . . not if you’d just gone on a wild ride across a frozen lake in the dead of night.
My heart goes out to the relatives and friends of those that perished . . . and my thoughts keep going back to this mystery man, and how awful this experience must have been for him.

While we undertake our home renovations, let’s remember that safety should always come first. That dubious fireplace or wonky electrical wiring should be inspected, repaired and passed before being put into use. Be careful when you use portable heaters to compensate for a drafty, poorly-insulated house, and remember that the ten dollars you spend on a smoke alarm should be the first thing you invest in for your home . . . and they should be in operation even if the rooms are not finished yet (get battery-powered ones, and make sure there’s one on every floor as well as in the kitchen and any room with a fireplace).

Another beautiful old house is gone . . . and at such an awful, tragic cost.