Hamilton fire causes $1 million in damages
Published January 22, 2024 at 1:00 pm
A blaze in a Hamilton home in the wee hours of the morning caused an estimated $1 million in damage.
According to Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe, the fire erupted at 211 Fallingbrook Dr. in Ancaster shortly before 1:30 a.m. When the first fire crew was in the way they reported heavy smoke and visible flames from around the corner on Crestview Ave.
On arrival, they found the one-storey home engulfed in the blaze with heavy flame emerging from the garage roof. Fire crews entered the home to search for any residents and fight the flames from inside. However, as they did so the flames burst through the roof of the home. The crews upgraded the fire by an “alarm” level to bring in more resources.
While in the home, the firefighters found the residents searching for their cats on the main floor. They removed the resident to the backyard, but the resident went back in. They had to be removed once more. Paramedics assessed the resident but they did not require treatment. Firefighters found one of the cats and reunited them with the resident. However, two other cats perished.
While the firefighters were in the home, a great deal of the fire began to break through the roof. The incident commander, fearing a collapse, called the firefighters out of the building. Once outside the crews began working the fire more defensively from the exterior. They were able to gain control of the blaze, but by then the fire had consumed much of the home. As feared the roof did indeed collapse.
Cunliffe estimates the fire caused “in the neighbourhood” of $1 million in damage, including radiant heat damage to a neighbouring home. Fire crews remain on scene to watch for hot spot flare-ups. Due to the large damage value, Hamilton Fire contacted the Ontario Fire Marshall who will investigate.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
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