A Collingwood family is without a home after a fire ripped through a house on Sunday morning.
Flames started shooting out of the home on Surfside Crescent, just before 7:30 a.m. Witnesses described hearing what sounded like explosions coming from inside the building.
“The flames at that time were probably 30 feet in the air, so it was really dramatic and then followed by further explosions,” says Bob Mills.
A woman was inside the home at the time of the fire. According to Collingwood fire chief Trent Elyea, the woman was asleep when the smoke alarm went off.
“As you can see, it got into the wall went up over top and took the roof off the house. it could have been a tragic ending, but the smoke alarms clearly made a difference,” Elyea says.
The woman was able to escape without injury. At this point in the investigation, Elyea believes the fire started in the garage, as a result of an electrical issue. A vehicle was also destroyed, but crews were able to contain the fire to the property.
“We got lucky yeah. The wind was going the right way.”
Most of the home has been destroyed, but some items were saved. At this point, the damage estimate has been pegged at $750,000.
Elyea says the remainder of the home will have to be torn down.
