Damage is estimated at $250,000 after an early morning blaze Wednesday at a home in Byron, but London firefighters say the outcome could have been much worse.
Emergency officials responded to the single family bungalow at 261 Stephen Street just before 3 a.m., and when they arrived, flames were already shooting from the roof. In fact, conditions were too dangerous to send fire crews inside the home.
“We fought the fire from the outside, it was just too dangerous to enter.” District Chief Kirk Loveland told AM980.
“The fire had already extended up into the roof, and the entire roof structure was in flames. Firefighters were able to protect exposure to nearby properties, and none were damaged.”
The only person inside the home was sleeping in the basement at the time, but was woken up by one of three working fire alarms in the residence. He rushed upstairs to find the back of the home on fire, and was able to safely escape through the front door.
“Those smoke alarms were quite possibly the determining reason why the occupant was awakened, and able to escape, and save his life,” said District Chief Loveland.
Nobody was injured as a result of Wednesday’s blaze.
The cause remains under investigation.
Source: Smoke Alarms Credited With Saving Life of Byron Resident Driven From Home by Fire | (CFPL AM) AM 980
