Fire destroys 3 homes in Richmond Hill, damage estimated at $12M

A large fire destroyed several homes in Richmond Hill overnight, and police estimate the damage will total millions.

Crews were called to Duncan Road shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Sunday after neighbours in the area reported hearing several explosions.

It took about five minutes for trucks to respond, said Richmond Hill Fire Deputy Chief Tom Raeburn, and by the time they arrived a sprawling home under construction was entirely engulfed in flames.

The blaze reached two adjacent houses shortly after.

"The house where the fire started was under construction, so there was no brick on it, no drywall. Flames spread really quickly in that home, and the high winds really pushed it to the houses beside," Raeburn said from the scene.

Both of the neighbouring houses were occupied.

"Fortunately those folks got out early," he said.

There were no reports of injuries. Peter Summers, who lives nearby, said he helped warn neighbours of the blaze.

"It was horrendous," said Summers, who said his house was spared thanks to firefighters hosing it down.

"Luckily nobody got hurt, but it was pretty, pretty traumatic to say the least," he said.

Eight trucks and about 35 firefighters battled the fire, Raeburn said. Crews from Vaughan, Central York and Markham fire services also stepped in to help out.

The windy conditions meant the situation could have quickly spiralled out of control, he said.

"There were embers flying everywhere. We actually had to send crews one street over as embers were getting on the roofs of houses one street down," Raeburn said.

In a release Monday, York Regional Police said the damage to all three homes is estimated at more than $12 million.

The Ontario Fire Marshal has been notified and will be investigating the origin of the blaze. York police are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact investigators or submit a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers.