Damage is pegged at over $500,000 after fire tore through a 100-year-old home south of Lambeth.
London firefighters were called to the Decker Dr. home just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday by a neighbour who spotted flames coming out of the attic. As the neighbour knocked on the door to alert the two people inside the house to the fire, the smoke alarms began to sound. No one was hurt.
"When [fire] crews arrived they were able to make entry into the home and the fire appeared to be in the attic above them. Conditions changed very quickly and they had to back out and go to defensive operations," said Acting Deputy Chief Jack Burt.
Burt noted the ages of the home likely contributed to the quick spread of the flames.
"This house was built about 100 years ago so it was likely balloon frame construction. Those houses typically have beams that go from the basement right to the attic," said Burt. "They are not built like today's houses which have fire stops between the floors. So if a fire gets into the walls it can actually spread through the entire house very rapidly."
The fire destroyed the home and firefighters were still on scene Monday extinguishing hot spots within the rubble.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but isn't believed to be suspicious.
