An early morning fire in Kirkland Lake has resulted in significant property damage and sent two people to hospital.
In a brief phone interview with CTV News Fire Chief Earl Grigg said fire crews were dispatched to a residential property on Main Street just before 1 a.m. on Monday.
Grigg said that upon arrival the single-family home was already fully engulfed in flames.
Desperate escape
The fire forced one occupant of the home to make a dangerous decision to escape the flames as fire officials told CTV News that the individual jumped from a second-storey window, sustaining a broken shoulder in the fall. Both they and another individual from the house were transported to hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Flames spread to neighbouring homes
The fire’s intensity was such that it extended beyond the original structure. While firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control, it did caused damage to the properties on either side. The primary site, however, bore the brunt of the destruction.
Not suspicious but cause under investigation
Grigg said that the origin of the fire is currently under investigation. However, officials do not believe the incident to be suspicious in nature at this time.
The financial impact is considerable with Grigg calling the home “a total loss.”
Combined with the damage to the two neighbouring properties, the total estimated damage is approximately $500,000.