Overnight Fire Destroys Connell Street Home in Woodstock

A devastating fire overnight destroyed the home of a Woodstock couple.  Woodstock Fire Chief Ricky Nicholson said crews responded to the call at about 12:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters arrived at the home at 351 Connell Street to find flames shooting through the roof.  The homeowners, Stuart and Gloria Kinney, were alerted by a smoke detector and made it out safely with just the clothes on their backs,  Nicholson said.

About 20 members of the Woodstock Fire Department battled the blaze in temperatures that fell below -20° C in the early morning hours.

Chief Nicholson said the fire started in the garage and spread to the house. The home and garage were a total loss.  Two vehicles were also destroyed in the fire.

The local fire marshal and Woodstock Police are assisting the Woodstock Fire Department in the investigation to determine the exact cause of the Connell Street fire.