Fire ravaged a home on Colborne Street in Chatham this morning.
Firefighters from Station 1 responded shortly after 1 a.m. after receiving a call that a couch was on fire. By the time they arrived, the fire had spread quickly to the front porch and parts of the interior of the home.
Officials say firefighters entered the home to see if anyone was inside. After a search, conditions deteriorated as the blaze had spread into the attic and flames were leaping through the roof.
Police were able to locate the residents, who had safely left the building.
Three hand lines and a water tower were used to battle the blaze. Large quantities of smoke and flame were present while the crews fought to bring the fire under control.
As they battled the fire, one firefighter received minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Cause of the fire was undetermined, officials say, due to the severity of the fire.
“The crews arrived to find the front of the house engulfed in flames with no indication that everyone was out. They entered the house and meticulously searched to check nobody was inside and to fight the fire,” operations chief Chris Case said in a media release. “Additional firefighters were called to assist with the operation and to keep public and responders safe. Everyone worked incredibly hard in very cold and windy conditions to contain this fire and demonstrated the skills and determination we have come to expect from our crew.”
Damaged is estimated at $100,000.
