Family dog saved from $600,000 house fire in east London
A London man says he jumped his backyard fence to alert a woman and her granddaughter still inside a burning home on Tuesday evening.
Taryn Page lives behind 35 Tennyson St., near Hamilton Road. Page responded just as the flames began. He says he fought his way to the front door of the home and knocked frantically.
“I think she [the female property owner] had woken up. I was yelling before in her backyard,” Page explained.
After seeing the woman exit with her granddaughter safely, Page says the family dog who had escaped, somehow got back into the house.
For a few brief moments he went inside in an attempt to retrieve 'Parker.'
“I was crawling in the living room and the smoke was too thick,” said Page.
Taryn Page stands in his backyard with the fire damaged home of a neighbour over his shoulder, June 29, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)As he retreated, Duncan MacKinnon arrived at his mother’s home directly behind the fire.
“The back of the house was completely on fire, as I approached the fence line I could feel the heat. It was a scary scene,” said MacKinnon.
Realizing he could not get past the flames he took a video of the fire and captured the scene as fire crews arrived.
As firefighters worked to control the blaze, others worked out front to aid the family dog. 'Parker' was given oxygen by firefighters and is believed to be recovering.
Duncan McKinnon rushed to the scene of a fire at a home directly behind his mother’s property. Realizing he could not get past the flames to help, he took video just moments before firefighters arrived. June 29, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) Neighbour Bill Landry, who lives across the street, witnessed the rescue and told CTV News, “The fireman carried him out, and they had him on the ground over there.”
Moments earlier, Landry was among the first to see the rising flames as he sat on his porch.
“Fire! A lot of it. Very heavy. They [the flames] were shooting up in the air,” he said.
Landry's description demonstrates why those who aided in the rescue are pleased everyone escaped, even though the damage is significant.
Fire officials estimate the loss at $600,000.
Bill Landry lives directly across from the scene of a house fire on Tennyson Street. June 29, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) Looking over at the remains of the home, McKinnon, who did not know everyone had escaped safely until meeting with CTV London, expressed relief.
“That’s awesome! That’s really good news,” he said.
London police have deemed the fire suspicious and the Ontario Fire Marshal and London Fire Department investigators remain at the scene Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.