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
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.