As 'bright as the sun': Students describe house fire near Fanshawe College
As many as six students are displaced after a fire heavily damaged a home near Fanshawe College.
The blaze broke out in a back split at the end of the Prosperity Court.
Gillian Gilmore and Victoria Ashley live nearby and were alerted by approaching fire trucks.
“I could hear the sirens, and I thought that’s really close,” explained Gilmore. “So I looked out front and said, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I ran out front and saw the big flames in the air. It seems like it was the sun! That’s how bright the flames were!”
“It just felt like a heavy blanket almost coming over the street,” shared Ashley.
More than 25 firefighters and a half dozen engines arrived moments later.
Several tenants were outside to meet them. All were unharmed, according to Platoon Chief Kirk Loveland.
London fire crews responded to a call on Prosperity Court around 10 p.m. on April 15, 2024. (Source: London fire)Still, he told CTV News London, firefighters entered the home to ensure no one else was inside.
“Fortunately, they had working smoke alarms and they all escaped.”
Loveland said the residence is heavily damaged and estimated the loss between $400,000 to $500,000.
The blaze started on the east side of the home.
“We determined that the fire started on the exterior. It had combustible siding on the side, which accelerated the fire spread,” said Loveland.
The initial speed of the flames and smoke was a growing concern for nearby residents, including Fanshawe student Kolapo Bankole.
“There was just a lot of commotion, and we were concerned it was going to head towards the next building, but thankfully that didn’t happen.”
The fire is not considered suspicious.
The displaced students are receiving support from the Red Cross and other agencies.
London fire crews responded to a call on Prosperity Court in London on April 15, 2024. (Source: London fire)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
After more than 100 years, Newfoundland's unknown soldier returns home
An unknown Newfoundland soldier, who fought and died on the battlefields in northeastern France during the First World War, is back home this weekend for the first time in more than a hundred years.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.