Firefighters in London had to break through layers of concrete and wood flooring Monday morning to reach a fire burning between floors at the city’s priciest condominium building.
Crews were dispatched around 7:30 a.m. to 122 Wortley Rd. after reports of smoke inside the three-storey, seven-unit property. According to the London Fire Department, firefighters arrived within minutes and traced the flames to a concealed space between the first and second floors. Officials believe faulty wiring in that hidden cavity sparked the blaze.
Accessing the fire proved challenging, requiring crews to cut through structural materials to fully extinguish it. While direct fire damage is estimated between $20,000 and $30,000, total losses — including smoke spread and water damage — are pegged at about $200,000.
Residents were evacuated as a precaution, and no injuries were reported. At least one unit sustained damage, but the building has since been returned to its owner.
Fire officials credited the quick call to 911 and the early hour for limiting the destruction, emphasizing the importance of responding immediately when smoke alarms activate.
The upscale property includes a penthouse that sold in October for $2.25 million, setting a new record for condominium sale prices in the city.