Aylmer residents praise exhausted firefighters
Emergency services in Aylmer, particularly the fire department, are having an exhausting week.
As crews still cope with the aftermath of a major downtown fire, another blaze destroyed a home under construction.
At 2:35 a.m. on Friday, a 911 call sent multiple engines to a nearly completed structure on Aspen Parkway — the street is inside a new subdivision.
“When crews arrived, the upper storey was completely involved. Very little fire on the first level,” Chief Todd McKone told CTV London.
The home, which had not yet been occupied, is a total loss with damage estimated at $1-million.
The fire has been deemed suspicious. Aylmer Police and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office (OFM) are investigating.
Firefighters cleared the scene around 9 a.m., the same time salvage crews arrived at the site of the downtown fire.
For now, they are only cleaning up debris around the portions of the building which still stand.
As a result, Talbot Street from John to Queen Streets remains closed.Anne Harder operated a business inside a century building destroyed by fire in downtown Aylmer, Ontario. March 24, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
Anne Harder was watching the cleanup at the backside of the building.
She owns a now-destroyed accounting business. Its office was on the ground floor.
Harder told CTV News London she was inside the burning building Monday around 8:15 p.m. when suddenly, another tenant told her to get out quickly.
“And then it all happened from there. It went downhill,” she said.
But like many in Aylmer, Harder reflects on the compassionate work of firefighters. She said one prevented her from going back to get documents still inside the building.
“He convinced me not to run back in for anything. He was very reassuring and supporting,” said Harder.
On Friday, as salvage crews handed over tax files that survived the blaze, Harder continued her accolades.
But she is not alone.
Bob Nesbitt speaks highly of the Aylmer fire department after two major fires in recent days. March 24, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)Town resident Bob Nesbitt, a one-time volunteer firefighter, also had kind words.
“We’ve got a great fire department. There is no doubt about it. Also, the surrounding areas, we want to thank them for coming to help us out,” said Nesbitt.
Still, Nesbitt and a collective chorus of Aylmer residents are hopeful the string of fires is over.
“Get things back to normal, that’s what we need," Nesbitt said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.