Woman, 39, dead after fire guts London, Ont., home: Police
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A 39-year-old woman has died of her injuries after a house fire in the city’s east end.
Emergency crews responded shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday to a blaze at 1884 Avalon St., a residential street located north of the intersection of Clarke Road and Dundas Street.
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Firefighters found a badly injured woman on the front lawn of the home. She was rushed to hospital by paramedics.
London police announced Sunday that a 39-year-old woman had died in hospital due to her injuries. The identity of the woman was not made public by police.
More than 30 firefighters battled the flames that had engulfed the single-family home, extinguishing the fire by about 4 p.m. Thursday. Neighbours reported seeing flames shooting from the window of the home.
Damage from the blaze was estimated at $500,000.
Investigators from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal were on the scene Friday inspecting the badly damaged house. The provincial agency investigates all fatal fires and ones that are suspicious, explosive-related, linked to drug activity or have a damage estimate of more than $500,000.
Neighbours told The Free Press homeless Londoners had been seeking shelter in the backyard of the home for several years, coming and going from the property frequently.
City hall bylaw officials have come to the property several times for cleanups in the past five years, neighbours said.
Burned e-bikes, scooters, shopping carts and makeshift shacks were visible in the backyard of the home in the aftermath of the blaze.
London police said Sunday the investigation into the fatal fire is ongoing. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call London police at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
jbieman@postmedia.com
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