Couple loses everything in fire

Aimee Ingelhardt and Adam Bourdeau have no idea what they’re going to do or where they’re going to go, after a fire destroyed their Blackfriars Street home early Friday morning (Nov. 18).

The couple woke up sometime between 5 and 6 a.m., Bordeau said, to the sound of smoke detectors in their multi-unit building. The people living in the unit below them were also screaming.

“You could feel the heat. There was smoke seeping up from the floor into our bedroom, so it was pretty close,” he said. “You don’t really know what to think.”

Ingelhardt instinctively called 911.

“(Responders) told us if there’s a way to get out, for us to get out,” she said.

Their only option, Ingelhardt said, was a door that opened to a slopped roof 12 feet off the ground.

“My boyfriend jumped off the roof and someone helped me off.”

Bourdeau and Ingelhardt ‘s dog also managed to escape the fire using the same exit route as the couple.

Fortunately for the couple, they weren’t injured but were still taken to the hospital to get checked out. Other people in the burning house were transported to hospital for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, police said.

Fire crews worked on clearing the house of hot spots Friday morning, so investigators could go in and determine the cause of the blaze. Based on their preliminary investigation, the London Police Service Arson Unit and the London Fire Department concluded the fire wasn’t suspicious in nature.

Coincidentally, this isn’t the first fire at the building. About two months ago, there was a fire in the stairwell, Ingelhardt said.

With the house destroyed, Ingelhardt and Bourdeau are wondering when they’ll be able to get back in their unit to see if they can salvage any of their belongings.

“We’re just waiting for Red Cross right now to see if they can put us up somewhere but we don’t really know what we’re doing yet,” Ingelhardt said.

Bourdeau was able to grab his wallet before fleeing the fire but that’s not going to help much when it comes to starting over since the couple doesn’t have rental insurance.

“(We’re) looking for somewhere to get put up for a couple of days and try to figure everything out,” Bourdeau said about their future plans.

Ingelhardt echoed his uncertainty.

“It’s pretty scary,” Ingelhardt said.

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A fire on Blackfriars Street has resulted in the Blackfriars Bridge being closed, heading into the downtown area. This road closure is estimated to last until approximately 10 a.m.

Several people have been transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation and police are also reporting minor injuries but didn’t provide more details.

“They’re both doing fine, pretty shaken up,” said Kelly Chauvin, a friend of two of the people that lived in the multi-unit building.

Chauvin received a call from his friends at about 6:30 a.m. They were at the hospital already but needed him to come and pick up their pet.

He said this isn’t the first time there’s been a fire at the building. About two months ago, there was a fire in the stairwell.

Police and fire crews are still on scene dealing with the fire.

More on this breaking story to come.

via London Community News