File photo. Matthew Trevithick / 980 CFPL
Two people were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries Friday following a serious fire at a two-storey residence on Egerton Street, police and paramedics said.
Emergency crews were called to the scene at 216 Egerton St., just north of Trafalgar Street, around 6 p.m. for a report of a structure fire.
Upon arrival, crews could see heavy smoke coming from the four-unit building. The blaze started in the basement unit and spread to the other units, said Acting Deputy Fire Chief Jack Burt.
“When we got here, on route, 911 received calls from people who were trapped in the basement,” he said. “Engine crew went in to try and get to them and experienced high heat, heavy smoke, and high flame. We did have a mayday, meaning firefighter in trouble.”
Burt said firefighters briefly evacuated as a result of the mayday, but soon went back in and retrieved the two occupants from the basement.
A Middlesex-London EMS official said paramedics transported a man and woman from the scene to hospital with life-threatening injuries. One firefighter at the scene suffered minor injuries, Burt said.
Seven other people were also in the building at the time of the blaze, spread throughout the four units, Burt said. All were able to find accommodations for the night. Every unit in the building sustained either smoke or fire damage, and damage to the basement unit was described as “extensive.”
“It took us about two and a half hours to get the fire under control,” Burt said.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation. We’re still trying to determine the origin cause and the circumstances of the fire.”
No damage cost estimate was available, and the Ontario Fire Marshal has been called to the scene. Crews remained on scene as of 9 p.m. to maintain a presence.
Police blocked off the intersection of Hamilton Road and Egerton Street as a result of the blaze. East and westbound motorists were forced to turn around at Egerton.
