Urgent response to London house fire: 'We were told en route there were still people trapped inside the home'
Smoke could be seen for kilometers after a blaze broke out in a west London home over the noon hour.
911 calls started coming in about 12:15 p.m. reporting a fire at 332 Blue Forest Drive.
That's about the time Jesus Blanco heard a loud bang and came out to see the garage of his neighbour’s home covered in flames, with those flames spreading quickly.
Initial reports to the London Fire Department indicated there were people in the home.
"We were told en route that there were people still trapped inside the home,” says Platoon Chief Gary Mosburger, “With that situation it becomes a very heightened level of response for us.”
Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 332 Blue Forest Drive in London, Ont. on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Courtesy: Jesus Blanco)As it turns out, Marilyn Jones, her husband and her grandson all made it out safe.
Jones was checked out by paramedics shortly after.
"We just finished eating lunch and then my husband -- we were eating in the dining room -- went by to go down the hall and he said ‘my gosh the house is on fire,’" Jones said.
Jones says ended up going downstairs to avoid the smoke and flames.
"We got downstairs and there is a bedroom downstairs and we escaped out the window of the bedroom,” she said.
All were unharmed.
Officials say the fire appears to have started in the attached garage. One of the complicating factors was that the door between the garage and the home was left open. They say a closed door can go a long way to inhibiting the spread of a blaze.
Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 332 Blue Forest Drive in London, Ont. on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Courtesy: Jesus Blanco)Mosburger says the other critical factor on this day was the weather.
"We call this a wind-driven fire. As soon as you have a bit of wind like this it will drive the fire depending on the wind direction and, in today's case, in the wrong direction for us,” he said.
Once the fire broke through the roof, fire crews took a defensive position using an aerial truck to bring it under control. They managed to do that at around 1:30 p.m.
The fire also did some damage to a neighbouring home.
Officials say, based on early estimates, the fire caused over $500,000 in damages. The cause remains under investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
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.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.