The Hamilton Fire Department is investigating a blaze that tore through a home in the east end late this morning.
Several people were able to get out of the house and escape from the fire, although one person was injured.
As flames tore through their home this morning, Pauline Douglas and Mike Connolly were able to escape to safety along with others in the house
“I came out the side and there was smoke all out the side there and I said to Danny, ‘your house is on fire,’” says Douglas.
Several people were in the building at the time.
They all made it out safely, except for one man whose hand was reportedly burned and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Firefighters got the call after 11 o’clock this morning with a plume of smoke rising above the city.
The smoke could be seen across much of Hamilton, with flames tearing through the roof.
Neighbour Alex Ratelle worried about it spreading across his back yard to his home.
“It just went up quickly. It was a fast burn,” says Ratelle. “I thought it was going to spread, especially with the giant tree.”
Firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading.
“It just came in as a structure fire. It was fully involved when we got here,” says Steve McKee with the Hamilton Fire Department. “Apparently one person did go to hospital as far as we know.”
Witnesses say they heard an explosion when the fire broke out.
Fire officials say they’re looking for the cause, and contacting the fire marshal.
There’s no dollar estimate so far but the damage to the building is extensive.
An update on the condition of the man whose hand was burned or how badly he was injured has not been provided.
CHCH News has learned that animal welfare officials were called with a dog in the building, but the animal died in the fire.