Two of a number of homes either destroyed or heavily damaged by fire in Seal Cove on the Baie Verte Peninsula on Thursday belonged to members of the local fire department.

The blaze broke out in a shed, but high winds quickly spread the flames to nearby homes and properties despite the efforts of the Seal Cove, Baie Verte, Ming’s Bight and LaScie fire departments.

In the end, five families were affected, some of whom had lost everything.

Seal Cove Fire Chief Robert Rice says the fire was hard on all their members.

“It’s not very good,” says Rice, “it’s hard too, because the two guys that the houses got burned was part of our fire brigade too right? And so, it’s just lucky that we got a lot of help from other towns as the firemen showed up.”

Fundraising efforts are already underway to help the families affected.