A house fire in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, on June 10, 2026, claimed the life of 24-year-old Amitoj Kaur and left 10 people without homes. The community has responded with an outpouring of donations to support the family and displaced residents.
The fire broke out around 11:45 a.m. on King Street and spread quickly through multiple buildings. Bridgewater Police Deputy Chief Danny MacPhee said it was the most intense fire he has seen in his 27-year career. “I’ve never seen a fire this intense and engulfed so fast,” he said. Flames were already shooting through the roof when crews arrived, and the heat was so extreme it shattered windows.
About 60 firefighters from up to 15 departments worked nearly 12 hours to bring the blaze under control. Kaur’s body was later found in the basement of the apartment complex where she lived. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though officials say there is no indication of criminal intent.
Amitoj Kaur was an international student from India who came to Nova Scotia in 2020. She worked in Bridgewater to support her parents back home—her father is very sick and her mother is a housewife. She had not been able to visit her family in six years.
Her cousin, Gobind Nishan Singh, started a GoFundMe campaign to bring her remains home to India and cover funeral costs. The goal is $50,000, and by Monday morning it had already raised over $39,000. The South Shore Multicultural Association shared a message asking for help, saying, “Our hearts are heavy as we remember Amitoj Kaur.”
The fire also displaced 10 residents. Most stayed with friends or family, though one person needed a hotel room paid for by the community. The Canadian Red Cross set up at town hall to help those affected.
The Salvation Army began collecting donations of clothing, toiletries, bedding, household items, and gift cards for the displaced families. Donations can be dropped off at their location at 116 Pleasant Street in Bridgewater.
King Street reopened on June 12 after cleanup work. The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office is working to confirm the victim’s identity, while the fire marshal’s office continues to investigate what started the fire.
