Firefighters say about $1.5 million in damage is the end result of an early Thursday morning commercial fire at an automotive shop in Hannon, Ont.
Hamilton fire believe the multiple alarm blaze, at a “U” shaped building on Hendershot Road between Regional Road 20 and Golf Club Road, began around 6:30 a.m. after a passerby saw white smoke coming from a roof.
Authorities alerted residents during the event to shut down HVAC units to avoid drawing in smoke and police closed Hendershot Road between Regional Road 20 and Golf Club Road.
Firefighters say the blaze was contained to the property and 12 tankers, including units from Grimsby and West Lincoln, were required to shuttle water to the site since there were no hydrants.
“Within an hour of the fire sections of the roof collapsed,” chief Dave Cunliffe said in an email.
“Through a focused effort by a number of crews, the fire was cut off before spreading to the adjoining units in the building.”
There were no injuries during the blaze that lasted about two hours.
Both the Office of the Fire Marshal and the Ministry of the Environment were notified of the incident.
The cause is not yet known and still under investigation as of Thursday afternoon, according to Hamilton fire.
Plumbers torch believed to have caused Mount Hope blaze
Firefighters believe another morning blaze in Mount Hope, just 15 kilometres from the Hannon fire, was likely caused by a plumber’s torch.
Emergency crews say the fire was at a one storey home under renovation on Airport Road between Miles Road and Upper James Street.
“The involved structure is a total loss and there was some damage to the exterior of the house to the west,” Cunliffe explained.
Damages are estimated to be in excess of $350,000.
No injuries have been reported.