Fires destroy 2 neighbouring Bayhampton Crescent houses in Thornhill

Vaughan Fire credited with quickly containing blazes, rescuing cat from scene

Yorkregion.com
September 10, 2018
Heidi Reidner

The charred remains of one home and a second badly damaged house are what’s left this morning after a two-alarm fire tore through two Bayhampton Crescent buildings in Thornhill Sept. 8.

Area residents credit Vaughan Fire Services for containing the blaze and preventing the fire from spreading to other houses in the densely populated subdivision.

One rescue, two ladder and four engine trucks, 28 firefighters and four chief officers were on scene, according to fire officials.

As a large crowd of concerned onlookers gathered on the street and with flames visible from the roofs of both homes, firefighters entered both residences to conduct interior searches and offensive fire attack, Fire Chief Deryn Rizzi said.

That moved to defensive operations in the form of an aerial attack after concerns arose over the possibility of roof collapses, with firefighters being pulled out of both homes by evacuation tones, Rizzi added.

While no one was injured in the blazes, firefighters rescued a cat from one of the homes.

Investigators remain on scene Sept. 9 trying to determine the origin and cause of the blazes.

Noting the homeowners of the principal residence involved did not hear their smoke alarms when they vacated the house, although they were ringing when firefighters arrived on scene, Rizzi added a reminder to residents that working smoke alarms save lives.

"Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries," Rizzi said.

"If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out."