The London Free Press
London fire investigators are proving a large blaze at a south London motel, a fire that has hit 12 units and caused upwards of $500,000 in damage.
Fire crews and London police responded to the Super 7 Motel at 697 Wellington Rd. S. midday Saturday. The smoke and fire appeared to spread to several units in one wing of the motel that is set back from the road.
Firefighters were seen cutting holes in the roof of the motel wing to attack fire in the attic around 1:30 p.m.
There were no injuries reported and no one was transported to hospital, district Chief Scott Turnbull said.
Fire crews checked each of the 12 affected units twice for occupants, Turnbull said. Firefighters finished the preliminary attack and then doused hot spots in the attic of the complex, he said.
Neil Auld, who was in a motel unit in an adjacent wing, said he saw smoke coming from a unit near the centre of the strip of rooms. He ran to the motel office to tell the owner and made his way to the room.
“I broke a window. The owner opened the door and I tried to go in but I couldn’t see or hear anyone inside,” he said Saturday.
London Hydro crews were on scene cutting power to the section of building Saturday shortly before 2 p.m.
Police closed a Wellington Road South in both directions, between Southdale Road and Wilkins Street, for several hours as firefighters battled the blaze and investigated its cause. Traffic was routed from major north-south artery onto residential side streets, causing significant delays.
London police assisted the fire department with traffic control, media relations officer Const. Jeremy Koekebakker said Saturday. A London fire investigator arrived on scene Saturday afternoon shortly after 2 p.m.
Due to the cost of the damage caused by the fire, the Office of the Fire Marshal will be notified about the blaze, Turnbull said. The provincial agency investigates all fatal fires, ones that cause serious injuries and ones that are explosive-related, linked to drug activity or have a damage estimate of more than $500,000.
Source: London Free Press
