14 people displaced after fire at west Hamilton Mountain townhome complex

Fourteen people have been displaced after a fire caused significant damage to three townhomes on west Hamilton Mountain overnight Monday.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight at a townhouse complex on Caroga Court near Morgan Road.

The blaze was quickly upgraded to a multiple-alarm fire, bringing in Hamilton Fire Department units from across the city. 

“Its devastating. Never experienced it in my life. I’ve lived here for 25 years. I have nothing,” says Tracy McHugh, a resident of the townhouse complex.

No one was injured in the blaze that is said to have spread from a shed to unit 2 and the neighbouring townhouses. However, one domestic cat did not survive. 

One young woman ran from unit-to-unit trying to wake up people and pets inside.

“The fire was very aggressive and very fast-moving. It got into both unit 2 and 1. Both on all floors, the first floor and second floor, up into the attic space. It was then travelling in the attic space across into unit 3,” says Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe.

Due to the fire being outside, residents didn’t hear any alarms. But McHugh and her family were able to get out ahead of the flames.

“I opened up my curtains and it was just high flames outside of my house. I just yelled and said ‘the backyard is on fire’ and we all got out,” says McHugh.

The fire department says there is significant damage to two homes but, firefighters were able to limit the damage to a third townhouse.

Residents say a local woman took in several cats and a dog.

Damage is estimated to be well over $1 million.

The Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified and the fire department says Hamilton police are now looking into the blaze. 

A cause has yet to be determined.

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