Fire destroys family home near Yarmouth during snowstorm

A family of six lost their home after a fire broke out during Friday night's snowstorm.

Their house on Hardscratch Road in Brooklyn, N.S., just north of Yarmouth, was destroyed by fire, said Guy Muise, a platoon chief with theYarmouth Fire Department.

The house was fully engulfed with flames coming out the windows when firefighters arrived, Muise said. The teamhad to call for help from four other departments.

"The house was pretty much a total loss," Muise said. "It was pretty much burnt up. There was a lot of stuff inside that caught fire."

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Family 'got out without anything'

Neither the couple nor their four children were injured, hesaid.

"The homeowners pretty much got out without anything," Muise said.

The family isstaying with relatives. The CanadianRed Cross helped them buy emergency clothing and food, arelease issued Saturday said.

Tablet charging cord may be cause

Flames came froman outlet "where an extension cord was plugged in, charging one of those tablets," Muise said.

The roads were slippery with snow, ice and slush, so firefighters drovewith "extreme caution," he said.

They responded to the blaze around 6:40 p.m. and stayed at the scene nearlyfour hours.