A $200,000 house fire in Byron has prompted a reminder from the London Fire Department to never leave space heaters, air purifiers, and other appliances running when not at home.
Firefighters were called to the townhouse on Commissioners Road West at Boler Road shortly before 2 p.m. on Thursday. A neighbour had called 911 after hearing a fire alarm and seeing smoke coming from the home.
Fire crews arrived and extinguished the blaze and ventilated smoke. A search found no one was inside the townhouse and no injuries were reported.
Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by an overheated small appliance that had been left running.
"Don't leave appliances running when you aren't home. Turn them off," said London Fire Department Platoon Chief Kirk Loveland. "If you're not going to be there you don't need to use it. That way you leave your home in a much safer environment and aren't risking it catching on fire."
Loveland added that by only using items like space heaters when you are home you can catch a malfunction immediately and prevent the situation from escalating into something more serious.
The townhouse fire was one of two serious blazes in the city on Thursday. The second happened just after 11 p.m. at a vacant garage at 129 Base Line Rd W., west of Wharncliffe Road South. The flames and thick smoke could be seen from quite a distance and initially led to fears a highrise in the area was on fire.
"When crews arrived they discovered it was a vacant building nearby. The crews attacked the fire in an offensive strategy and by 11:17 p.m. it was under control," said Loveland.
No one was inside the garage and no one was hurt.
"In a case like this, there is nothing in the building to start a fire. Utilities aren't connect and no one is living there. So the fire has been determined to be suspicious in nature," said Loveland.
The building, which was destroyed, had been scheduled for demolition.
