A fire at a house in Elmvale Tuesday morning was contained, but not before fire crews reverted to "defensive operations," according to Springwater's deputy fire chief.
At 11 a.m., Springwater Fire and Emergency Services responded to reports of a structure fire on Amelia Street, and encountered heavy flames engulfing the roof upon arrival.
Support to battle the blaze came from all four fire stations within the township as flames spread rapidly through the residence. Aerial apparatus were deployed to fight the fire from above.
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"Due to an early roof collapse, our firefighters quickly transitioned to defensive operations,"
explained deputy fire chief Jeff French in a news release. "The home's age and construction presented
additional obstacles, such as hidden voids, weakened structural elements, and unpredictable
fire spread patterns."
The building's occupant was alerted by a passerby, and eventually evacuated safely, later to be evaluated by paramedics as a precaution.
Damage caused as a result of the blaze is estimated to be around $800,000. Its cause is still under investigation, but isn't considered suspicious.
