Nine townhouses damaged in Waterdown fire
Cause not yet known in early afternoon fire that began in one unit
A fire ripped through a Waterdown townhouse complex, causing at least $1 million in damage and affecting nine units.
The blaze broke out at 20 Nisbet Blvd., just off Hamilton Street North, around 1:15 p.m. Friday and quickly spread to all three floors, Fire Chief David Cunliffe said.
When crews arrived, the fire was “fully involved,” with heavy flames and smoke visible from outside the home.
Heavy winds caused the blaze to spread to units 16 and 18 — all of which are “extensively damaged,” Cunliffe said.
“This was not an easy fire to fight.”
Firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading to the six townhouses that back onto the unit where the blaze started, but four of them have smoke and water damage along with units 14 and 22, Cunliffe said.
Fire crews were able to put out the blaze within an hour but remained on scene dousing hot spots until about 3:30 p.m.
Cunliffe said 24 fire vehicles and units had been on scene, some of which provided relief because of the cold and windy weather.
No one was home at the time of the fire, but one person was treated for minor smoke inhalation, he said.
A dog found in one of the units received medical treatment on scene and was sent to a local veterinarian.
Caitlin Wilson, who lives on Nisbet, was walking her dog just before 1 p.m. and didn’t notice anything. Fifteen minutes later, she heard the fire trucks and saw the townhouse burning.
“Immediately I was like, ‘Oh my God, she has a dog.’”
Wilson said a firefighter brought out a French bulldog and laid her on the grass. The unit owner is a single mother with a son, she added. The dog was unconscious, Wilson said, but she put her coat on her and started rubbing her to warm her up.
The dog eventually woke up, vomited and was put on oxygen before being taken to the vet, she said.
Matt McManus lives around the corner. He was driving home around 1:15 p.m. when he noticed the balcony on fire and called 911.
“It was spreading really, really fast,” he said. “Within seconds it had gone up.”
Cunliffe said it was too early to determine what caused the fire. The fire department has notified The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal because of the extent of the damage.
The city’s building department has also been contacted because part of the roof and ceiling had collapsed, he said.