Bay of Islands cottagers prevent larger calamity following August 27 cabin blaze

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Bay of Islands cottagers prevent larger calamity following August 27 cabin blaze

Quick-acting neighbours in the Bay of Islands used community-funded water pumps and an emergency alert app to contain a massive cabin fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby woodlands.

Tom Sasvari

Sep 02, 2026 - 3 min read

BAY OF ISLANDS BLAZE—A huge fire engulfed a residence on the Bay of Islands on August 27. While this structure was destroyed in the blaze, thanks to the efforts of the Bay of Islands Community Association, the massive fire did not spread to neighbouring properties or the forest. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire. —photo by Celesta Bjornson

Bay of Islands cottagers prevent larger calamity following August 27 cabin blaze — BAY OF ISLANDS BLAZE—A huge fire engulfed a residence on the Bay of Islands on August 27. While this structure was destroyed in the blaze, thanks to the efforts of the Bay of Islands Community Association, the massive fire did not spread to neighbouring properties or the forest. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire. —photo by Celesta Bjornson

BAY OF ISLANDS—Thanks to the quick and concerted efforts of several members of the Bay of Islands Community Association (BICA), a huge fire, which engulfed a cabin and a shed on one of the islands did not spread to other cabins in the vicinity or wooded area. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze (with the owner of the cabin not in the building at the time of the fire) which took place early in the morning of Thursday, August 27.

“I got a call from a neighbour about a quarter of a mile down the bay at about 4:50 am, telling me ‘your home is on fire,’ stated Chris Walker. “I immediately checked to make sure my place was not on fire. But when I went outside, I could see this great glow and huge flames from a neighbouring home. There is also an older lady who lives on the island I am on and went and let her know that there was another structure on our island on fire.”

Celesta Bjornson told The Expositor, “We received a call from Chris and Kim Redston, who first called. My husband John and I could smell smoke, and we went outside. We didn’t see the flames at first, but when we walked down toward the bay we did.”