Five displaced, dog perishes in Byron residential fire

Two animals have died and five people displaced after a fire at a townhouse in Byron.

The fire, the cause of which is still being determined, broke out around 11:45 a.m., on Commissioners Road west, south of Oxford Street.

“No injuries to any of the occupants, they all made it out safely,” confirmed Platoon Chief Jamie Britton with London Fire Department. “We did recover a dog that unfortunately perished in the fire, and we were able to locate and extricate a cat.”

Damage is estimated upwards of $200,000 and investigators will be on scene this afternoon.

Although the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Britton had a reminder for Londoners, “Always have working smoke detectors,” he insisted. “It’s a lifesaver, time and again.”