House fire in Ancaster causes $1M in damages

Firefighters launched a massive effort to fight a raging fire that broke out at a home in Ancaster early Monday morning, even rescuing a resident who went back inside to save her pets.

The flames broke out around 1 a.m. on the quiet residential street of Falling Brooke Drive near Woodview Crescent.

Neighbours reported flames nearing 20 feet high and reaching the height of trees surrounding the home.

Officials say it was a fast moving fire, spreading from the garage into the main roof.

Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe says more than 40 fire fighters were on scene to battle the blaze.

“When we arrived we had a well-involved fire, heavy flame and smoke in the garage area. That fire then very quickly spread into the home area, into the roof.” said Cunliffe.

While the fire continued to spread, officials say the home’s sole resident was still in the house. Firefighters say they found the woman who lives there inside looking for her cats.

Despite being taken out of the home, fire crews say she went back in again to continue her search.

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“The occupant who we were able to get out decided that they needed to go back in to continue to look for their pets. Obviously in a situation where, very volatile, we had a fast moving fire, conditions were changing.” said Cunliffe.

With a growing threat of the roof collapsing, they say she was once again removed as conditions became even more dangerous.

“At the time they were going back in we were actually in the process of pulling our people out because of the instability of the structure.”

The roof would ultimately collapse and the house would be nearly destroyed when the fire got under control by 6 a.m.

The woman was assessed by paramedics and cleared with no injuries. One of her cats was found, but two remain missing.

Despite her safe escape, the fire chief warns that no one should ever enter a burning building.

“Our advice is once you get out please stay out. Let the firefighters do their job. Let them do what they have to do in terms of search and rescue and fire suppression. This morning this could have turned into an extremely dangerous and tragic situation.”

The damage from the fire is estimated at more than $1-million. The fire department says given how dangerous the home remains, the cause will remain to be undetermined.