Fire breaks out at student residence in Peterborough’s west end

Fire ripped through the top floor a student residence in Peterborough’s west end on Thursday afternoon.

Crews responded just before 1:30 p.m. to the multi-unit complex on Spillsbury Drive across from Clancy Crescent, near Airport Road.

The complexes in the area are commonly used as student housing for the nearby Fleming College campus.

Student Eric Gorleau, who lives in a nearby townhouse, said the flames were visible outside the residence and large plumes of smoke were billowing high into the sky.

“I was inside my apartment and my girlfriend got a call – her friends were coming down the road and could see the fire,” he said.  “We came outside and there were flames coming way outside the roof here. It was pretty intense. The first fire truck was here when we came out and the rest showed up.”

Firefighters managed to contain the fire to the one unit.

Property manager Sabrina Hepp confirmed with Global Peterborough that no one was home at the time of the fire.

However, Peterborough Fire Services says one person was treated at the scene by paramedics after trying to alert anyone inside about the fire.

Six residences were relocated.

Damage is estimated at $75,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

— More to come

(Photo courtesy Ryan Driscoll).