Damages are estimated at about $800,000 after a fire ripped through a home in a small community northeast of London, officials say.
Thames Centre firefighters from both the Thorndale and Dorchester fire stations were called to a home at 114 Harrison St. in Thorndale – a community of roughly 1,000 people located about 20 kilometres northeast of London – shortly after 10:15 a.m. on Sunday for reports of a blaze, Thames Centre fire Chief Nick Dorken said.
“(There were) no injuries and there were two occupants in the home at the time of the fire, and they’re now displaced,” Dorken said, noting about 35 firefighters battled the blaze.
Dorken said the fire was knocked down within an hour, and firefighters remained at the scene until about 3 p.m. on Sunday.
“We don’t have . . . an official (estimate) from insurance, but I believe we’re going to list it at, for our records, at $800,000,” he said.
The cause of the fire hasn’t yet been determined, Dorken said, adding Thames Centre’s fire department has called in the Ontario fire marshal to conduct an investigation in cooperation with the Ontario Provincial Police. The OPP remained at the scene on Monday morning.
Victim services were contacted by the fire department as well as the Salvation Army to assist the home’s displaced occupants, Dorken said.
He called the scale of the fire uncommon for Thames Centre but said they do “happen from time to time,” noting the importance of keeping working smoke alarms in homes.
“(We want to raise) awareness for everybody to ensure they’ve got working smoke alarms in their home, and that way we can stay safe,” Dorken said.