Man dead following house fire in Cambridge
A man has died after a house fire on Esther Avenue in Cambridge on Monday evening.
Around 5:10 p.m., crews from five stations of the Cambridge Fire Department responded to the blaze.
The department shared pictures showing thick smoke billowing from the home. A news release from the City of Cambridge read that fire crews arrived to heavy smoke and significant fire coming from the front of the house.
"A lot of flames, a lot of smoke. It was fully engulfed," said Gwen Chiasson, who lives across the street.
Crews had to cut into the roof of the home as they worked to extinguish the fire.
Firefighters entered the home to start an interior attack and look for people inside, but had to get out due to increasing heat and intensifying flames.
"We had to back out, retreat. We went from an offensive strategy to a defensive strategy," said Brad Churchill, deputy chief of the Cambridge Fire Department.
Officials say that soon after crews left the house, the main floor was engulfed in flames and the floor partially collapsed.
"Cambridge firefighters performed admirably tonight," said Cambridge Fire Chief Brian Arnold in the release. "No firefighter ever wants to encounter such an outcome, and we mourn along with the community."
While extinguishing the fire, a deceased male was found.
"It's very difficult for the family, for this community and also our firefighters," Deputy Fire Chief Brad Churchill said. "It is something our firefighters never hope to encounter and we do have peer support for our members."
Neighbours said the man was in his 70s and lived alone.
"I walked down the street very often and always waved and said 'hi'," Chiasson said. "He has lived on the street for a long, long time as we have and he's a very nice man. And was friendly to everyone."
The origin and cause of the fire is currently unknown.
The structural integrity of the house has been compromised and is not yet safe to enter for investigation.
Officials say the Ontario Fire Marshal, Cambridge Fire Department and Waterloo regional police are expected to remain on scene in the coming days to continue the investigation and determine the cause of the fire as well as an estimated cost of damages.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Thunderstorms kill 2 in southern Ont., knock out power in parts of Que.
As the May long weekend kicked off, a massive thunderstorm in southern Ontario and Quebec brought strong wind gusts that knocked down trees, took out power and left at least two people dead.

Putin's invasion of Ukraine an 'act of madness,' former U.K. PM Blair says
The United Kingdom's former prime minister Tony Blair says Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine is an 'act of madness.' In an interview on CTV's Question Period airing Sunday, Blair said Putin doesn't appear to be the same man he knew in the early 2000s.
Flu cases on the rise in Canada despite expected fall
The federal government is reporting a sharp rise in influenza in recent months, at a time of the year when detected cases generally start to fall in Canada.
BREAKING | Toronto investigating first suspected case of monkeypox
Health officials in Toronto say they are investigating the first suspected case of monkeypox in the city.
A 'relieved' Jason Kenney says he won't run in the UCP leadership race
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he will not be running in the race to pick a new leader of the United Conservative party.
Youngest of 10 Buffalo shooting victims laid to rest
Roberta Drury, a 32-year-old woman who was the youngest of the 10 Black people killed at a Buffalo supermarket, was remembered at her funeral Saturday for her love for family and friends, tenacity 'and most of all, that smile that could light up a room.'
The science behind why smoke seems to follow you around a campfire
Why does smoke seem to follow you around a campfire? B.C. research scientist Kerry Anderson told CTVNews.ca the answer actually boils down to physics.
Expert's tips on what to do if you're being carjacked amid rash of Toronto incidents
Some drivers in Toronto may be feeling on edge as Toronto is dealing with a rash of violent carjackings targeting mostly high-end vehicles.
A year of trauma, catharsis and finally peace for some survivors of Kamloops school
The nightmares started last May, said Harvey McLeod, chief of the Upper Nicola Indian Band and a survivor of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.