'He's Amazing': Neighbour gets three families out of burning homes
A man is credited with awakening the sleeping residents of three homes impacted by a fire.
The blaze broke out at 3:15 a.m. Tuesday in a large townhome complex located at 700 Osgoode Dr.
Ange Senese tells CTV News London he had just awoken to let his dog out when suddenly he heard a noise.
“I heard like bang, bang, bang.”
Senese turned around and saw fire shooting from a neighbour's townhome unit across the street.
Ange Senese stands in front of townhomes damaged by fire in London, Ont., Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Ange Senese stands in front of townhomes damaged by fire in London, Ont., Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
He says he then ran quickly ran back into his home and yelled to his mother, Michelle Senese, to call the fire department.
“My son came into the house and yelled, ‘Mom, mom, call 911!” she says.
As Michelle did that, Senese ran first to unit 98. He says he banged twice and was about to kick the door when a woman holding a baby answered.
He charged in to help get others out and encountered a man on the second floor.
“He was getting water in a bucket to throw it on the fire and I just said, ‘It’s too late, we have to get out of here now!’”
In the end, Senese helped get a man, woman, and two children safely out.
He then ran next door to unit 100.
Through a slightly open door, he ran through the smoke and determined there was nobody inside.
But in actual fact, the four people there were - at the same time - escaping out another door.
One, Czeslaw Jodlowski, says he awoke to the panic of banging and smoke.
“About three o’clock in the morning, we don’t know what’s happening. We go outside and see fire, smoke.”
As Senese cleared unit 100, he looked up at the blaze.
“By the time I came out, it had grown probably 10 times in size. It just kept multiplying and multiplying.”
With the spread of the fire, he next headed back to unit 96 to make sure its residents got out.
In the end, that third unit suffered little visible damage.
Investigators go through the scene of a multi-unit townhouse fire in London, Ont. on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Investigators go through the scene of a multi-unit townhouse fire in London, Ont. on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
London Fire Platoon Chief Colin Shewell says all residents are fortunate Senese saw the flames as witness reports suggest it began on the balcony.
Still, he says the fire and another on Madison Avenue in London Monday are a solid reminder to ensure smoke alarms and carbom monoxide detectors are powered and working correctly.
Fire inspectors and police are working on a cause, but Shewell says, at this point, it does not appear to be suspicious.
“For now there is nothing here to indicate anything out of the ordinary. It’s a routine investigation with our partners.”
Damage is estimated between $200,000 and $300,000.
It’s a difficult loss, but Shewell says not as difficult as what could have been.
“It’s a good news story here, neighbour helping neighbour and no injuries to our firefighters or anyone involved in this tragic situation.”
“(Senese) is amazing," a neighbour told CTV News off-camera, as many gathered to survey the damage Tuesday morning.
Senese says he only did “what anybody would have done.”
In total, the London Fire Department says eight people were able to safely escape the south London fire.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
IN PHOTOS Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
The Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday's final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
Cyclist issued fine for striking four-year-old girl crossing the street
A cyclist turned herself in and received a fine after striking a four-year-old girl who was crossing the street to catch a school bus.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Here's what 'the hinge' move is, how to do it correctly
When you're picking something up from the floor or bending over to tie your shoe laces, you're performing "the hinge move," according to movement trainers.