No Injuries Reported Following Explosion, Fire At South End Townhouse
Nobody was injured, and the Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating, after an explosion and fire ripped through a south London townhouse Friday evening.
Emergency crews were called to the scene at 1217 Southdale Road East, a public housing complex, around 8:15 p.m. to reports of an explosion and heavy smoke.
Police remained at the townhouse Saturday morning, holding the scene for fire crews, who returned multiple times overnight to deal with smoldering, hot spots, and reports of smoke.
Details remain limited, but witnesses say the explosion rocked nearby townhouses, and saw heavy smoke billowing from the building.
Police note it’s too early to say whether the explosion and blaze is suspicious, as officers have been unable to inspect the property. Fire crews deemed the property unsafe to enter.
Witnesses told officers that a man, whom police say is now a person of interest, was seen fleeing from the building prior to the explosion. Officers say the property hasn’t been the focus of past police attention.
Police are now trying to identify the tenant of the townhouse, and say it’s too early to determine if the explosion was a result of possible drug activity in the building.
Union Gas says their crews were not called to the unit.
(Photos: James Holand (top), Lindsey Mary Ann (right))
Source: No Injuries Reported Following Explosion, Fire At South End Townhouse | (CFPL AM) AM 980
