A house fire at 2175 Burtch Rd. this morning destroyed a townhouse unit and damaged several others, leaving two families displaced and at least one potentially homeless. 

At 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. faint smoke smells were detected by tenants, but due to the late hour and the sparse and non-localized nature of the smoke, it was not perceived as a threat – one tenant described it as “could have been exhaust from a car that just started.” 

By 5 a.m., the smouldering fire began to blaze, rapidly consuming the entire unit. 

The tenants escaped harm, though the tenant’s grandson was taken to KGH for smoke inhalation.  Emergency social services have provided temporary relief for the families. 

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, though foul play is not suspected at this point. 

The building contained townhouse units – the residents of the furthest unit have been allowed to remain in their unit due to good condition and only minor smoke damage. Resident Gregory Krasichynsky from that unit was roused by his wife Connie at 4:50 a.m. and captured this striking photo of the blaze.