Fire destroys new home builds in Brant County

A fire that destroyed newly-built homes in Brant County is being treated as suspicious.

Ontario Provincial Police said crews were called to Pottruff Road, just outside of Brantford city limits, around 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

The nine homes, all of which were under construction, have varying degrees of damage. Three were completely destroyed, while the remainder had only minor damage, such as melted siding.

OPP said no one was hurt in the fire.

Fire damaged homes on Pottruff Road in Brant County on July 15, 2024. (Krista Simpson/CTV News)

Eric Southward woke up Sunday morning to the sound of a neighbour banging on his door.

“All I could see was orange because of how big the fire was. And I could also feel the heat coming through my door as well,” he said. “The flames were probably 50 feet above the roofline. It was an absolutely massive fire.”

Fire on Pottruff Road in Brant County on July 15, 2024. (Source: Eric Southward)

Southward watched as firefighters tried to save the home where it’s believed the fire started.

“We watched the walls collapse in on themselves,” he said. “There was a minor explosion in that house as well.”

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

OPP said none of the homes had electricity, as no one was living in them, so the fire is considered suspicious.

Fire on Pottruff Road in Brant County on July 15, 2024. (Source: Eric Southward)

The Ontario Fire Marshall’s office has been notified but they won’t be investigating.

“There was no reasonable prospect of determining an origin or cause of the fire given the level of damage,” Sean Driscoll explained in an email to CTV News.

Fire damaged homes on Pottruff Road in Brant County on July 15, 2024. (Krista Simpson/CTV News)

OPP are asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity, or has video surveillance, of the area to contact Brant County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or text *OPP (677). Anonymous tips can also be called in to Brant-Brantford Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.