Officials investigating massive fire that destroyed 12 homes at Kitchener construction site
A dozen homes were destroyed in a fire at a Kitchener construction site on Tuesday evening.
The inital call came in around 7:50 p.m., and a couple hours later three fire trucks and aerial crews were still putting out flames on Beckview Drive near Huron and Fischer-Hallman Roads.
Fire prevention officer Richard Brooks told CTV News 12 homes that were under construction were destroyed, and another six are damaged.
A large fire on Beckview Drive on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Supplied by Jallaina Manwell)
Brooks says high winds caused the fire to spread quickly.
"It could've been a lot worse. It could've jumped the street. We already had exposure damage on buildings across the street," he said.
Area residents also had concerns of the fire spreading closer to their homes.
"I was afraid it was going to catch all the way down there and I said 'is it going to come across here? Are we going to be able to breathe?'" said Marie Erickson, who lives nearby.
A large fire on Beckview Drive on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (CTV Kitchener)
No injuries have been reported, but damage estimates are over $1 million.
Crews will be on scene overnight watching for hot spots.
The Ontario Fire Marshal was originally called to the scene, but local fire officials said they've been called off.
The fire department said they left the scene and won't return for now, since there's nothing physical to investigate as everything has "burned to the ground."
A large fire on Beckview Drive on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (CTV Kitchener)
Officials said there is a lot of video surveillance in the area, which they'll go through to determine if the fire is suspicious. They expect to receive that video by the end of Wednesday.
"I've never seen something so fast, like burnt so fast, and it was so large, like with the wind," said Kitchener resident Amanda McDonagh, who lives nearby. "It was just going to the next house, to the next house, to the next house."
Lirjon Ferizi and his sister, Erjona, were on their way to scene Wednesday as their parents bought one of the homes.
"We were supposed to move in in January a year later," Lirjon said. "It is sad, your family works so hard for something and you can see it going down to the ground."
"It had three bathrooms upstairs. I was excited to move into it, because I knew I was going to have my own bathroom up there," Erjona said.
Officials say the fire could've been a lot worse, as crews managed to control the blaze before it spread even further.
"If the fire had been any closer, this whole entire block could have gone up in flames," Brooks said.
With reporting from Jeff Pickel.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.