Firefighters controlled a blaze which destroyed a Minden Hills home on Gelert Road Feb. 20.

At approximately 2 p.m., the Minden Hills Fire Department responded, according to fire chief Mike Bekking. Upon arrival, crews found a single-story residential structure fully ablaze, he said.

“Crews were able to contain the fire to the structure, saving the nearby garage from damage,” Bekking said.

There were no injuries, with nobody at home when the fire started. The home was considered a complete loss.

He added the cause of the fire is undetermined.

“There’s just too much loss there for us to determine the cause of the fire,” he said.

OPP, EMS, Dysart firefighters and county roads workers also assisted at the scene. He said the response was very effective, with firefighters overcoming difficulties getting a close water source, eventually relying on a nearby pond.

“They worked from 2 p.m. and didn’t leave there until approximately 8 p.m.,” Bekking said. “They worked hard for a long time.”

Bekking emphasized the importance of preventative fire safety measures “Smoke alarm, CO (carbon monoxide) detectors, they’re your first line of defense in a fire like that,” he said. “Fire prevention is always the key for our area.”