(Bonnechere Valley Fire Department/Facebook)
Foul play is not suspected as officials continue to look into the cause of a recent house fire in Dacre.
Bonnechere Valley Fire Chief Darryl Wagner says his team was first on the scene on Friday after getting the call that the unoccupied home had begun burning just after 1:00 pm that afternoon.
Efforts to douse the building were sped up thanks to fire crews using a nearby pond as a water source, and while the home did suffer some notable damage, Chief Wagner says the family living in the home was thankfully away at the time.
Eyewitness accounts say the fire has displaced the family and caused significant losses for them as community members have appealed online for donations to help them recover.
Meanwhile, with a stretch of dry weather expected for most of the Ottawa Valley this summer, Chief Wagner says it never hurts to check in about possible fire bans as his team looks to protect residents and local wildlife.
(written by Kasey Egan)