Fire causes more than $1 million damage to two neighbouring homes on Britannia Avenue

Two neighbouring homes in east Hamilton have suffered more than $1 million in damages after a multiple-alarm fire early Friday.

Emergency services were called to a structure fire on Britannia Avenue, east of Kenilworth Avenue North, shortly after 4 a.m. July 8.

When Hamilton fire crews arrived they found heavy smoke and visible fire from two, two-and-a-half storey homes at 316 and 314 Britannia, said fire Chief Dave Cunliffe. Flames were through the roof.

Firefighters searched both homes and found them empty, he said. They later learned residents in 314 had been alerted by a passerby and fled before firefighters arrived. There are no reported injuries.

The fire spread quickly through the upper floors of both homes and it took some time for firefighters to bring the fires under control, Cunliffe said.

Both homes have suffered extensive damage and with estimates to be in excess of $1 (million)," Cunliffe said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified.

Fire crews remain on scene Friday morning checking for hot spots.

Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com