Cambridge house fire causes $400K in damages
Four adults and a baby have been displaced after a fire broke out at their Cambridge home late Thursday night.
Cambridge Fire said crews from four stations responded to Ballantyne Avenue in Galt around 10:20 p.m. Paramedics treated two people for smoke inhalation at the scene but they did not require further treatment in hospital.
The cause of the fire has been determined to be electric. This is the second electrical fire Cambridge Fire has seen in the past two days.
“That’s two electrical fires in two nights for Cambridge Fire, two families that barely escaped,” said Deputy Fire Chief Brad Churchill with Cambridge Fire Department. “They did have working smoke and CO alarms so they were quickly notified and able to get out just in time.”
A neighbourhood pet sounded the alarm to its owners Thursday night after hearing commotion from across the street.
“My dog, he barked and we both heard an unusual sound so we looked outside the side door and we found out there were fire trucks and everything,” said neighbour Angela Bradbury.
With fire trucks and over 25 firefighters across the street, Bradbury says she was shocked by the events that were unfolding in front of her.
“It was just a real shock in the neighbourhood because we do have a lot of different things that happen here but the neighbourhood is still always tight. But when I found out it was my neighbour’s house, I was so scared,” she added.
The house is now boarded up after regional officials came to secure the home. According to Cambridge Fire, the flames began in the basement and made their way to the main floor, causing an estimated $400,000 worth of damage.
“The first thought that came to my mind was obviously ‘oh my gosh, is everyone okay?’ We’re really hoping we can get them their stuff back that they lost,” said neighbour Samantha Bradbury.
Fire officials say electrical issues also sparked flames at a home on Patton Drive early Thursday morning. At a time when families are decorating their Christmas trees with lights and setting up electric decorations, Cambridge Fire is urging caution and to avoid using so-called octopus outlets that cluster wires and plugs together.
“With the holidays here, we like to plug in all sorts of different electric candles, Christmas trees, exterior lights, again, we don’t want to overload those circuits,” said Deputy Fire Chief Brad Churchill. “So make sure you’re not using octopus wiring, that you do have a certified electrician coming in to add extra electrical outlets if required.”
Cambridge Fire said all five residents of the home on Ballantyne Avenue have been displaced and the Red Cross is working with them to find accommodation.
Correction
A previous version of this story stated two people were taken to hospital however Cambridge Fire clarified that they were treated and released at the scene.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'COVID is not done,' Canadian infectious disease expert says ahead of WHO announcement
While RSV and flu cases steadily decline in Canada, the World Health Organization is set to announce on Monday whether it still considers COVID-19 a global health emergency, but one infectious disease specialist says we still need to keep an eye on the coronavirus.

Father pushing Manitoba to follow Ontario, Saskatchewan in screening for CMV
Roughly one in 200 babies born in Canada today will have congenital cytomegalovirus, a virus that can lead to hearing loss, intellectual disability or vision loss. But with only two provinces screening newborns for CMV, one father is asking other health-care systems to do more.
19 vehicles towed, dozens of tickets issued as rally marks one-year anniversary of 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa
OPS and Ottawa Bylaw officers issued 117 parking tickets and 47 Provincial Offences Notices Saturday, as hundreds of people marked the one-year anniversary of the 'Freedom Convoy'.
Former Mississauga, Ont. mayor Hazel McCallion dies at 101
Former Mississauga, Ont. mayor Hazel McCallion, nicknamed 'Hurricane Hazel,' has died. She was 101 years old. Premier Doug Ford said McCallion died peacefully at her home early Sunday morning.
As Canada's RCMP marks 150th anniversary, a look at what it says needs to change
After years of reports and allegations detailing a 'toxic' workplace, Canada's RCMP says it is trying to evolve, focusing on diversity in its organization and repairing relationships with communities as it marks its 150th anniversary.
'24,' 'Runaways' actor Annie Wersching has died at 45
Actor Annie Wersching, best known for playing FBI agent Renee Walker in the series '24' and providing the voice for Tess in the video game 'The Last of Us' has died. She was 45.
Russian teen faces years in jail over social media post criticizing war in Ukraine
A Russian teenager must wear an ankle bracelet while she is under house arrest after she was charged over social media posts that authorities say discredit the Russian army and justify terrorism.
Russian shelling leaves 3 dead, 6 wounded in Ukrainian city of Kherson
Friends and volunteers gathered Sunday at Kyiv's St Sophia's Cathedral to say goodbye to Andrew Bagshaw, who was killed in Ukraine while trying to evacuate people from a front-line town. This comes as Russian forces heavily shelled the city of Kherson, killing three people and wounding six others, the regional administration said.
Germany won't be a 'party to the war' amid tanks exports to Ukraine: Ambassador
The German ambassador to Canada says Germany will not become 'a party to the conflict' in Ukraine, despite it and several other countries announcing they'll answer President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's pleas for tanks, possibly increasing the risk of Russian escalation.