Three people remain in critical condition after a fire tore through a rental home in east London on Friday morning, prompting multiple rescues and a major emergency response.
Firefighters were called to a house on Dundas Street shortly before 10 a.m. after flames and heavy smoke were seen billowing from second-floor windows. Crews found between eight and 10 people inside the building and carried out several rescues.
Three occupants were transported to hospital in critical condition, while other residents escaped the blaze.
London Fire Department officials confirmed the property had been under investigation for alleged fire code violations before the incident. The building owner is already facing charges related to the ongoing case, though officials declined to discuss the specific allegations because the matter is before the courts.
The Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and London police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire due to the severity of the injuries. Authorities say the home sustained extensive damage and has been deemed uninhabitable, with displaced residents receiving temporary housing assistance through the Canadian Red Cross and community agencies.
Dundas Street was closed between Lyle and Rectory streets for several hours as emergency crews responded and investigators examined the scene before reopening Friday afternoon.
Update – One of the victims, a 29-year-old woman, has died from her injuries at the hospital. Damage from the fire is estimated at approximately $500,000.