UPDATED — March 29, 8:59 a.m.
A fire on Dow Street in Copper Cliff is the largest fire so far in 2010, and gutted eight townhouses and left 27 people homeless March 26.
According to Greater Sudbury Fire Services (GSFS), the fire began around 8 p.m. on March 26.
The volunteer fire department from Copper Cliff was assisted by volunteer departments from other parts of Greater Sudbury and two full-time units sent from the city.
None of the 27 residents of the eight townhouses were injured in the fire, but one fire fighter did suffer back injuries, George Lalonde, Greater Sudbury Fire Services platoon chief, said. However, several pets perished in the fire.
Occupants were comforted by other residents and Red Cross officials and moved to secure quarters by Sudbury Transit vehicles, added Lalonde.
“The fire happened in the middle unit in the townhouse complex,” Lalonde said. “It had a type of ... roof structure that makes it difficult for firefighters to deal with in terms of extinguishing the fire so it was able to spread through the attic to the other units.”
High winds the evening of the fire also fanned the flames.
“We had 30 to 40 firefighters there and all our fire equipment at the scene during the evening and early morning hours," Lalonde said. "We still have crews there cleaning up the sight and removing equipment,” Lalonde said Saturday morning, the next day.
He said this fire was the the largest of the year to date.
During the fire, Power Street between RR 5 and Cobalt Street was closed to general traffic, and the public instead were re-routed through Balsam Street. Power to the area was also disrupted. Traffic and power was restored the next day.
The fire is under investigation by police and fire officials, Greater Sudbury Police Sgt. Phil Smyth said.
“Staff from the Ontario Fire Marshall are enroute to the city to investigate,” he said. Smyth said police were investigating the cause of the fire but had no comments as to how it began. Smyth said a man was arrested at the scene but it was unrelated to the fire. He would not comment on the nature of the arrest.
