Cat dead, damage pegged at $500K in middle-of-the-night house fire

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A cat was killed and damage is pegged at $500,000 after a Wednesday morning blaze at a home in the city’s east end, London Fire Department officials said.

It was about 1 a.m. when firefighters were called to the home on Saddy Avenue, located in the city’s Trafalgar Heights neighbourhood – northeast of the Clarke Road-Gore Road intersection. Firefighters arrived to find an occupant outside the house, officials said.

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Officials described an “aggressive offensive attack” by firefighters to contain the blaze to the home, but a neighbouring home was also damaged. London Fire Department photos posted to social media show fire crews hosing down a heavily damaged house.

Fire crews then transitioned to “aerial roof operation to put out hot spots,” officials said.

No people were injured in the blaze but one cat died, officials said. Damage is estimated at about $500,000. The cause remained under investigation, officials said.

At the scene hours later, on Wednesday morning, fire officials said the Ontario Fire Marshal would be investigating. London police were also at the scene.

It was about 4 a.m. when fire crews, including 28 firefighters and a district chief, began to clear the area.

Two charged after failed attempt to free suspect from custody

Two people face charges after a man tried to free an impaired-driving suspect from the back of a cruiser at a crash scene, Chatham-Kent police say.

Officers called to a crash at Keil Drive and McNaughton Avenue West about 12:30 p.m. Monday believed a motorist was impaired and arrested her, police said. A man who tried to free the woman from the backseat of a police cruiser was arrested, police said.

A Chatham-Kent woman, 49, is charged with obstructing a peace officer and impaired driving by drugs, police said. She was released with conditions and an April 18 court date.

A Chatham man, 39, is charged with obstructing a peace officer, police said. He was released with conditions and an April 15 court date.

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