Boards on doors and windows create challenges for fire crews in London, Ont.
London fire crews faced a stubborn blaze in a vacant building on Hamilton Road early Monday afternoon.
Firefighters had to create upper-level vent holes to help exhaust heavy smoke from the structure at 254 Hamilton Rd.
They were called to the location, just east of Adelaide Street, at around 11:30 a.m. Monday.
When they arrived, the whole home was in flames.
Crews poured water on the structure to contain the blaze, which had a church on one side and homes on the other sides.
Hamilton was closed from Dreany Avenue to Inkerman Street while firefighters dealt with the fire.
Officials say the building has been empty for a number of years, but fires at the location have been an ongoing problem.
Neighbours say people are frequently breaking into the structure.
Fire officials say no one was inside when they arrived and there were no reported injuries.
Still, having boards on doors and windows created challenges for crews.
"It's also boarded up so it's difficult access for the crews to get inside and if they are inside, to work safely,” said Platoon Chief Dave Hood.
He says construction of the building was also problematic, "It's probably balloon construction. So we have problems, the fire can travel from the basement to the top floor in no time because there's no fire-stops.”
Fire and police remained on the scene late Monday afternoon. A cause has not been identified.
The Ontario Fire Marshal was on scene Tuesday morning to assist with the investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.