A somber mood hung over Ann Russell Way in Unionville, Ont. Tuesday morning as the cold light of day revealed the destruction left by a fire at a senior citizens complex.
Sixteen homes were destroyed in a blaze that spread through the attics of the adjoining houses. But the rapidly moving fire was not quick enough to result in a single injury or claim a life.
But it did claim memories, many of which were being salvaged by fire officials for the residents.
"That floral dish with all my gold jewelry in (it)," Elizabeth Bowles said as she spotted it being brought out of the charred wreckage that was her home.
Just a few salvageable items remain. Most of them just have sentimental value to their owners. That is enough for residents, who even expressed joy at seeing their neighbours reclaims a few memories from the ashes.
"But she's so happy, she had some gold jewelry ... and they brought that out and she's so happy to get it," Queenie Jordan said.
Fire officials erected a fence around the burnt-out properties, saying the homes are too damaged for people to go back in. Damage was so extensive that what remains standing of the 16 homes will likely be demolished.
The blaze erupted early Monday afternoon and spread rapidly through the complex of single-storey attached homes.
Two women out for an afternoon stroll found themselves rushing into homes, warning elderly residents that the building was on fire. The efforts of Heather McGilvery and Kathleen Heslip are being credited with helping to save lives.
Firefighters managed to get ahead of the fire by cutting trench in the roof of a home that was not yet engulfed. The technique stopped the fire in its tracks.
What sparked the blaze is not yet known. People left homeless on Monday found a place to sleep overnight with family or friends.
With a report from CTV's Galit Solomon
