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One man was taken to hospital following an early Sunday fire that caused extensive damage to a home northwest of downtown London, fire officials say.
Firefighters were called at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday to a fully engulfed home at 9 Summit Ave., west of the Oxford Street and Wharncliffe Road intersection and near the London Muslim Mosque.
“Crews made an initial attack and knocked it down quite quickly. However, there is extensive damage through the structure,” said London Fire platoon Chief Colin Shewell.
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One man who was in the house when the fire broke out was taken to hospital, but the extent of his injuries wasn’t immediately known early Sunday.
The person “was conscious and alert while in the care of paramedics,” Shewell said.
Initial estimates peg the damage at $450,000, Shewell said, adding that besides the fire and smoke damage, “we have about 10 inches of water in the basement.”
It wasn’t immediately known what caused the fire or where in the home it originated.
“The investigation will start today and most likely take most of the day,” Shewell said.
Shewell also reminded the public of the importance of having functioning smoke alarms.
“Working smoke alarms are key for early notification of both yourself that there is a fire in the house and for the fire department,” he said.
The London Fire Department has previously urged all Londoners to check the batteries on their smoke alarms once a year. Pressing the test button and hearing it beep will give “confidence that a working smoke alarm is in your home,” a fire official said last fall.
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