(CRAIG GLOVER, The London Free Press)
A quick response from the London Fire Department is being credited with keeping a west London garage fire from going from bad to worse.
The crew of Engine 3 arrived at a ranch style home at 3095 Bostwick Road mid-afternoon Sunday to find all the occupants safely outside and smoke billowing from the attached garage. What they weren’t counting on finding once inside was a large bank of batteries dangerously close to the working fire.
“We had to be careful not to get water onto the batteries,” Chief Jim Stockdale said at the scene. “There’s the risk that it will mix with the battery acid, which would already be hot. If they pop, it could cause some serious injury
Along with the battery bank, Stockdale said there was a large quantity of gasoline and propane stored in the garage, both of which could fuel the fire if it isn’t brought under control quickly.
“It’s certainly going to get a whole lot worse if you don’t,” Stockdale added.
While the flames were contained to the garage, smoke from the fire caused damage to other areas of the home.
An early estimate has placed damage between $150-200,000.
Bostwick Road remains closed between Pack and Southdale Roads while fire crews clear the scene.
The fire is under investigation.
Source: Battery cache challenges firefighters | The London Free Press
