A late-night house fire just west of downtown London has claimed the life of one person.
Firefighters were called to the yellow-brick duplex on Becher Street, near Wharncliffe Road just before 11 p.m. on Saturday. They were met with thick smoke coming from the home. An aerial ladder was used to help knock down the blaze.
On Sunday afternoon, London police confirmed that emergency services found the body of a deceased person inside one of the six units. The identity of that individual has not been released.
All of the other residents of the duplex have been displaced by the fire. Some are receiving assistance from the Red Cross.
Meantime, friends and Becher St. neighbours have set up GoFundMe donation pages for some of the people who lost their homes in the blaze.
Damage is estimated at $1.5 million.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal, local fire officials and police.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
