PARRY SOUND, ON – A residence had to be evacuated Friday night after going up in smoke.
The blaze happened at 21 River Street in Parry Sound around 8:30 p.m.
Chief of the town’s fire department, Dave Thompson, said all the residents got out safely and none needed medical assistance. He added one firefighter suffered a slight injury and is fine.
Thompson said paramedics and police were on scene and the McDougall Fire Department was called in because of the size of the building.
According to the chief, there was smoke throughout the lodging house, especially on the bottom floor. He added most people in the building were able to escape themselves, but firefighters entered to help out those who didn’t.
The chief said the building had a working fire alarm system and those who didn’t leave on their own slept through it.
Firefighters were able to suppress the blaze quickly and provided the building back to the owner at around 11:30 p.m.
Damage is estimated at $100,000, mostly due to smoke.
Thompson said the fire was reportedly started by a lightning strike, but an investigation was unable to confirm the cause.