Damage is pegged at $400,000 in a London, Ont., house fire that broke out early Friday morning.
Fire crews were called to the scene at 712 Adelaide St. N. around 3:40 a.m.
According to officials, firefighters were having trouble gaining access to the inside of the house as it was “absolutely full of debris.”
“It was hoarding-type conditions where the house was just jam-packed full of things and they (fire crews) could not get in to manoeuvre or make any headway into the fire scene without endangering themselves,” said Kirk Loveland, platoon chief with the London Fire Department.
Additionally, Loveland said the weather did not create ideal conditions for the working crews.
“First of all, they’re fighting a fire, which is a difficult task in and of itself,” he said. “Then with the freezing temperatures, you have to lay water supply lines and you have to keep water flowing and can’t let it freeze up or it will damage the equipment or trucks. So, it just complicates the situation.”
However, fire crews were able to take control of the blaze and no injuries were reported.
The origin and cause of the fire is still under investigation, Loveland said.
Adelaide Street North, between Pall Mall and Piccadilly streets, was closed earlier Friday morning but has since reopened to the public.