Fire damage currently estimated at $1.5M, officials say
One person is dead and several others have been displaced after a fire that took place at a semi-detached house near downtown London late Saturday night.
Shortly before 11 p.m. ET, emergency crews responded to reports of a fire at a six-unit residential building around Becher Street at Wharncliffe Road.
The London Fire Department worked to extinguish the flames, while simultaneously conducting a search and rescue, said platoon Chief Gary Mossburger. The victim's body and a pet cat were found inside.
"There was heavy fire involvement throughout the first, second and third floors and [it] eventually breached through the roof," he said.
"We were able to knock down the fire using aerial ladders."
Police have not yet identified the victim, but Mossburger confirmed they lived in one of the units in the building.
The early fire damage estimate is $1.5 million, Mossburger said, adding that a lot was lost and the fire burned "a great deal" of the building.
He couldn't confirm how many people lived in the multi-unit building, but said two evacuees were able to find a place to stay temporarily.
'House was engulfed,' neighbours say
Christina Stanley, who lives across the road from the house, woke up to the sound of people screaming. When she opened her front door, she saw the massive fire, she said.
"It was just black smoke, just billowing out of there, and there were a couple people out running around," Stanley said. "The house was engulfed. There were a lot of flames coming from the back and there was a glow in the back corner."
Darryl Aylas was on his way home from a show downtown when he saw about five fire trucks lined up on his street, he said. Aylas didn't know the person who died, but the fire was a frightening scene.
He described flames that soared about six metres high, reaching above the building. Aylas, who has close friends living next door, was concerned the fire would spread.
"They had a crane going over it, as well, to try to get it from both sides," he said. "Every time they would get the flames down, it seemed like five minutes later they were coming back up.
"Thankfully it seemed to be fairly under control."
Becher Street was closed to traffic between Horn Street and the Ridgeway overnight, but the roads have since reopened.
The Ontario Fire Marshal and the London Police Service's major crimes unit are investigating what could have led to the fire. The investigation will also determine whether the building needs to be torn down.
Mossburger said it's too early to determine whether the fire is being considered suspicious.