Firefighters battle a fire at 241 Simcoe Street, July 11, 2023. Photo courtesy of the London Fire Department. Firefighters battle a fire at 241 Simcoe Street, July 11, 2023. Photo courtesy of the London Fire Department.
London

$200K fire at public housing highrise displaces handful of tenants

London police and fire officials are investigating what is believed to be a suspicious fire at a highrise near downtown that displaced roughly a dozen tenants.

Firefighters were called to the public housing building at 241 Simcoe Street around 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday. When crews arrived on scene flames and smoke were coming from an upper-floor unit. An aerial ladder had to be used as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

No injuries were reported.

The building was evacuated as a precaution. Tenants who have been displaced due to fire, smoke or water damage from the incident are in the care of the London Middlesex Housing Corporation.

Damage has been estimated at $200,000.

The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office has been notified and is expected to attend the scene on Wednesday.

A second fire in an electrical panel at the building around 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday was unrelated, according to fire officials.

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