A London family of six is safe after fire ripped through their home early Sunday morning.
Just before 7 a.m. a family member heard the smoke alarm and quickly got everyone out of the semi-detached home at 847 Jalna Blvd.
When fire trucks arrived, the structure was engulfed by flames.
Mike Chamz was sitting on his couch when he heard the smoke detector alarm go off.
"So I ran upstairs to make sure everything was ok,” says Chamz. “The kids were sleeping upstairs, so there was no smoke upstairs. Then I ran back downstairs to the kitchen, that's when I saw the smoke. When I seen the smoke, I ran back upstairs, I got the kids out of the house, then the smoke was getting worse and worse. That's when I called the fire department and they came here.”
Damage has been pegged at $175,000. Fire officials say the investigation determined cigarettes probably ignited the blaze.
“We have found that careless smoking is the cause,” says Inspector James Hind of the London Fire Department.
“People need to keep in mind that you should be very careful when smoking,” he added.
It's unclear whether the family's insurance has expired, so they've checked into a hotel for now.
They are asking the public for help with items such as clothing and furniture.
For more information, call 519-777-2549.
