Damage is pegged between $2.5 to $3 million in a fire that gutted five townhouses in Angus.
Essa Township Fire Chief Doug Burgin tells Barrie 360 that crews were called to 29 Parkside Crescent around 4:30 Monday morning for a structure fire reported to be on the deck.
"Upon our arrival we noted heavy fire conditions at the rear of unit 29 extending up the entire structure and over the roof line with extension already to unit 27 and 31 of a five-unit complex," Burgin said.
All occupants got out safely, and Burgin believes they are being assisted by the Red Cross.
There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
Burgin said two of the units were destroyed, two others received significant damage and another has moderate damage.
The cause, according to Burgin, is believed to be an "accidental, improper use of an outdoor wood burning device used on a wooden deck resulting in a fire occurring during the night and being discovered in the early morning hours."
He said smoke alarms did eventually sound but since the fire started on the deck and then advanced into the homes, early detection by the alarms would not have occurred.
