'I thought I was in a movie': Woodstock mother escapes house fire with five kids
A mother and her five kids are staying in a hotel after a fire forced them from their home in Woodstock.
Crews were called to the Thompson Street property Saturday around 7:15 p.m.
“Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire inside the basement of the structure,” said Lukasz Kasprzyk, a Fire Prevention Officer with the Woodstock Fire Department.
Flames eventually got inside the walls, which forced firefighters back as they worried about the first floor collapsing.
Crews were forced to break down an outside wall in order to contain the "very stubborn fire" from the outside. They eventually extinguished the flames around 1:30 a.m.
Everyone who lived in the home got out safely and no injuries were reported.
The cause is still being determined but it's not considered suspicious.
Inspectors estimate about $500,000 in damages.
The first floor has partially collapsed, but further examination is needed to verify if the home can be salvaged or will need to be torn down.
"Damage to the upper levels, it’s minimal," said Kasprzyk. "The majority of the structure is compromised in the basement and the first floor.”
“The smoke was coming out about ten feet outside of the door and then just bellowing out,” said neighbour William Johnson.
Andrea Arango and her five children are renting the home. They are now staying in a hotel until they can figure out the next steps with their landlord.
"I was in shock," she said. "Words can not describe. I thought I was in a movie.”
Arango said she got an alert on her phone from her smoke alarm and then noticed smoke coming from the basement.
"My daughter says ‘It’s fire,’ and then my oldest one grabbed the little one and just ran out, and everyone ran out.”
Arango said her family has lost many essential belongings.
"Definitely my kids need clothes, they need jackets, they need shoes. They don’t have nothing right now."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
After 3 months of war, life in Russia has profoundly changed
Three months after the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, many ordinary Russians are reeling from those blows to their livelihoods and emotions. Moscow's vast shopping malls have turned into eerie expanses of shuttered storefronts once occupied by Western retailers.
Death toll from Saturday's storm hits 10 across Ontario and Quebec
As the death toll related to the powerful storm that swept Ontario and Quebec on Saturday reached 10 on Monday, some of the hardest-hit communities were still working to take stock of the damage.
'Too many children did not make it home': Anniversary of discovery at Canada's largest residential school
It's been a year since the announcement of the detection of unmarked graves at the site of what was once Canada's largest residential school – an announcement that for many Indigenous survivors was confirmation of what they already knew.
Walk out at trade meeting when Russia spoke 'not one-off,' says trade minister
The United States and four other nations that walked out of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group meeting in Bangkok over the weekend underlined their support Monday for host nation Thailand, saying their protest was aimed solely at Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.
19 charged, including 10 minors, after violent night at Toronto beach
Police say they’ve made 19 arrests and seven officers were injured after a violent night at Toronto’s Woodbine Beach that saw two people shot, one person stabbed, two others robbed at gunpoint and running street battles involving fireworks through Sunday evening.
Monkeypox fears could stigmatize LGBTQ2S+ community, expert says
A theory that the recent outbreak of monkeypox may be tied to sexual activity has put the gay community in an unfortunate position, having fought back against previous and continued stigma around HIV and AIDS, an LGBTQ2+ centre director says.
Hydro damage 'significantly worse' than the ice storm and tornadoes, Hydro Ottawa says
Hydro Ottawa says the damage from Saturday's storm is "simply beyond comprehension", and is "significantly worse" than the 1998 ice storm and the tornadoes that hit the capital three years ago.
Johnny Depp's severed finger story has flaws: surgeon
A hand surgeon testified Monday that Johnny Depp could not have lost the tip of his middle finger the way he told jurors it happened in his civil lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard.
Military members urged to contact Habitat for Humanity amid housing crisis
An email encouraging members of the Canadian Armed Forces to consider contacting Habitat for Humanity if they can't find affordable housing is casting a spotlight on a growing challenge facing many military personnel and their families.
London
-
Former Blue Jay Dalton Pompey plays at Labatt Park vs London Majors Monday
Fans at Labatt Park in London, Ont. got to see a former major league baseball player compete against their hometown team Monday afternoon.
-
Northern Tornadoes Project investigating East London for possible Tornado
Cleanup is still underway from Saturday’s massive storm that hit Southwestern Ontario, and not everyone in the region has their power restored.
-
Fire crews called to early morning blaze at Cargill Plant in London
London fire crews arrived to heavy smoke and flames Monday morning at the Cargill poultry processing plant.
Windsor
-
Northern Tornadoes Project investigating East London for possible Tornado
Cleanup is still underway from Saturday’s massive storm that hit Southwestern Ontario, and not everyone in the region has their power restored.
-
Three impaired driving charges laid in Essex County over the long weekend
OPP in Essex County have arrested three people for impaired driving over the long weekend.
-
IN PICTURES: Statue of baseball legend Fergie Jenkins unveiled at Wrigley Field in Chicago
Canadian baseball legend Fergie Jenkins was honoured by the Chicago Cubs Friday with the unveiling of a new statue at Wrigley Field.
Barrie
-
What's open and closed in Simcoe County on Victoria Day
The long weekend will bring a number of closures on the Victoria Day Monday.
-
Jimmy Cuddy Trio headlining June event for local hospices
Three local women are spearheading an event next month to give back to a cause close to their heart, with the help of some well-known musicians.
-
New beer-themed spa opens in heart of Muskoka
An existing business in Muskoka is expanding its offerings to include a unique experience right in the heart of Torrance.
Northern Ontario
-
Officials in the north worry destructive invasive species will emerge this summer
Researchers in the north are warning one of Canada's "most invasive plants" could be popping up this summer.
-
Election race tightens in Nipissing as candidates make final push for votes
With less than two weeks to go in the provincial election, candidates in Nipissing are preparing their final push to gain support from the 60,000 eligible voters in the riding.
-
Ontario doctors say the backlog for certain services reaching crisis levels
The Ontario Medical Association says the backlog for medical services has grown by one million in just the last three months.
Ottawa
-
Hydro Ottawa 'crushed' by storm: Another 2 to 4 days to restore power
The President and CEO of Hydro Ottawa says the local distribution network was 'crushed' by Saturday's storm and some people could be without power through the rest of the week.
-
Spoiled food: City of Ottawa setting up disposal bins, financial help
The city of Ottawa says residents who have lost food because of the ongoing power outages in the city can apply for some financial assistance.
-
The power of the storm: Clarence-Rockland farmer's silo pushed off foundation
Residents and farmers near Clarence-Rockland were also hit hard by Saturday’s major storm.
Toronto
-
19 charged, including 10 minors, after violent night at Toronto beach
Police say they’ve made 19 arrests and seven officers were injured after a violent night at Toronto’s Woodbine Beach that saw two people shot, one person stabbed, two others robbed at gunpoint and running street battles involving fireworks through Sunday evening.
-
Death toll after Ontario storm rises as crews work to restore power to 182K customers
Crews continue to try and restore power to more than 182,000 customers across Ontario after a storm ripped through the province over the weekend, leaving at least 10 people dead.
-
Ontario parties attach different price tags to pledge to boost student grants
Three of Ontario's four main parties are pledging to reverse cuts to the province's student assistance program, but they've all attached different price tags to the promise.
Montreal
-
Hundreds of thousands of Quebec homes still without power after weekend storm
Hydro-Quebec says that at the height of the storm, 550,000 customers were without power.
-
Death toll from Saturday's storm hits 10 across Ontario and Quebec
As the death toll related to the powerful storm that swept Ontario and Quebec on Saturday reached 10 on Monday, some of the hardest-hit communities were still working to take stock of the damage.
-
Saving a life? Two years of pandemic stress? Keeping calm is 'half the job,' paramedics say
It's a week designated to honour paramedics, and a recent call that sent two Montreal paramedics to a top-level emergency is one reminder of why.
Atlantic
-
Mask mandate drops in N.S. public schools Tuesday
When students in Nova Scotia return to school on Tuesday after the Victoria Day long weekend, wearing masks will be optional.
-
Man, 19, dies following single-vehicle crash in Shediac Cape, N.B.: police
A 19-year-old man has died following a single-vehicle collision in Shediac Cape, N.B.
-
Gowns of generosity: Over 100 prom dresses donated at N.B. high school
The generosity of several New Brunwickers will help ease the financial pressure of attending prom next month.
Winnipeg
-
First of three flights bringing about 900 Ukrainians to Canada lands in Winnipeg
The first of three charter flights bringing Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia's invasion to Canada has landed in Manitoba this afternoon.
-
Manitoba man charged with manslaughter following deadly hotel assault
Officers with the Manitoba RCMP have charged a 30-year-old man with manslaughter following a fatal assault at a Thompson, Man., hotel.
-
'Sounds from the Sky:' First Nations pilot aims to inspire young Indigenous flyers
Timothy Atik (Tik) Mason has fond childhood memories of boarding large aircraft that would take him from Winnipeg to loved ones in his home community of St. Theresa Point First Nation in northern Manitoba.
Calgary
-
Wreckage found of plane that disappeared in Ontario with Alberta men onboard, police say
The wreckage of a small plane that disappeared last month in northern Ontario with two men aboard has been located in Lake Superior Provincial Park.
-
Shooting on 17th Avenue S.W. sends 1 to hospital
EMS took a man to hospital suffering "traumatic injuries" after a shooting on 17th Avenue S.W. on Monday.
-
Calgary Stampeder under investigation, airline employee fired after fight at airport
The Calgary Stampeders football club has launched an investigation after video of a fight between a player and an airline employee went viral over the weekend.
Edmonton
-
A tale of two playoffs: Edmonton Oil Kings and Oilers compete for wins under one roof
As the city rallies behind the Edmonton Oilers taking the lead in the Battle of Alberta playoff edition, other playoff games are also being played at Rogers Place.
-
Northern Alberta search and rescue crews looking for missing canoer
RCMP officers are searching the Athabasca River in northeast Alberta for a missing canoer last seen around 12:15 p.m. on Saturday.
-
1 of 3 Alberta children hospitalized with severe acute hepatitis has been released
Three children in Alberta have now been hospitalized suffering from severe acute hepatitis not caused by known hepatitis viruses, officials said on Monday.
Vancouver
-
'Too many children did not make it home': Anniversary of discovery at Canada's largest residential school
It's been a year since the announcement of the detection of unmarked graves at the site of what was once Canada's largest residential school – an announcement that for many Indigenous survivors was confirmation of what they already knew.
-
'It's worldwide': International attention on Canada's residential schools after Kamloops discovery
A year after the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc announced the discovery of what they believed were more than 200 unmarked graves of schoolchildren, the ripple effects continue, with sustained attention the world over.
-
Man dead after stabbing near South Vancouver nightclub
A 19-year-old man was killed near a nightclub in South Vancouver early Monday morning, according to police.