A section of Highway 21 between Nelson and Newgate streets in Goderich reopened about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, after it was closed Wednesday morning as firefighters worked to put out a house fire.
Goderich Fire Chief Jeff Wormington called it a difficult fire to put out.
"It's a very stubborn fire. The roof has come down inside so the fire is all contained inside. Brick structure on both sides, so it's contained itself, so we're having a difficult time getting to it," he said.
He said firefighters were dispatched to the scene at around 6:40 a.m.after a passerby reported seeing the smoke. Wormington said the cause of the blaze is unknown at this time.
"There will be an investigation. It won't be an [Office of the Fire Marshal] investigation, we don't suspect arson or anything," he said.
He added that the house was vacant and under renovation at the time of the fire. No one was inside.
Wormington said he has no estimate of the damage caused by the fire as of yet.
He advised residents to keep their windows closed to protect against the smoke, and to avoid the area.
**this story was written by Julia DeJong, a 4th year journalism student at Carleton University, who is doing an internship with Blackburn Media