A house fire in an east London neighborhood has resulted in one fatality Wednesday morning.
Fire crews from London responded to the incident on Lyman Street, situated between Cheapside and Oxford streets, around 6:40 a. m.
Firefighters quickly mounted an aggressive attack and managed to assist one person along with a large dog to safety, according to Platoon Chief Colin Shewell.
Tragically, one individual was found deceased inside the residence, Shewell confirmed. Details regarding the victim’s name, gender, and age have not yet been disclosed.
The person who escaped was taken to University Hospital with injuries that remain unspecified, said Shewell. Their identity has not been made public.
The home on Lyman Street after a Wednesday morning fire. (Jessica Singer/CBC)
Investigators from London’s fire department are looking into what caused the blaze, receiving support from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office and local police.
On Wednesday afternoon, two volunteers from the Canadian Red Cross arrived at the scene. They mentioned they were called in to provide help for the individual taken to hospital.
According to Shewell, smoke alarms played a crucial role in alerting the escapee about the fire.
“You never know when fire might impact your life,” he noted. “I know some smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can be expensive, but they’re a cheap way to protect your family’s safety.”
Cause of Fire Still Under Investigation
Damage estimates for the home are around $500,000, Shewell stated, adding that most of it affected the main floor while investigators will work on pinpointing where exactly it started.
The front left side of the house showed more significant damage compared to its right side. The front left window is missing glass and char marks are visible above it.
Residents nearby gathered later on Wednesday afternoon to assess the situation.
“My wife said when she looked out, flames were coming through the roof and out of the front window,” shared Art Pinnell, who lives just down the street from where it happened.
</br
Pinnell recounted that his neighbor reported seeing glass pop out from one of the house’s front windows during the incident.
</br
Several neighbors mentioned they believed an older couple in their 50s or 60s lived at that address.
</br
Another Fire Response Within Hours
Separately on Wednesday morning at 9:30 a. m., firefighters were also called out for another fire at an attached garage located on Avenue Road south of Dingman Drive.
</br
Two people were taken to Victoria Hospital after a fire in an attached garage on Avenue Road Wednesday morning. (London Fire Department)
</br
Crews initially attempted an offensive strategy but had to switch gears due to roof collapse risks as per social media updates from officials. P></br
The garage suffered severe damage as well as parts of the connected home while two vehicles parked inside sustained major harm. According to Shewell, there’s no evidence suggesting lithium batteries caused this fire. p></br< p
He also noted there were functioning smoke detectors present in that house too.
</ br
Two individuals were transported to Victoria Hospital with injuries whose severity remains unclear, as reported by the fire department.
Source link
