One person suffered serious injuries in a house fire in Simcoe on Monday afternoon.
The house at 165 Head Street South was fully engulfed when police, firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene at about 2:34 pm
Heavy smoke and flames were coming through the front of the structure when fire crews arrived, Cory Armstrong-Smith, fire prevention officer with Norfolk County Fire Department, said in a media release.
One person who was in the home at the time fire broke out suffered serious burn injuries and was transported to hospital, Armstrong-Smith said. The extent of the person’s injuries is unknown.
Two other occupants were assessed at the scene by paramedics.
The phone system in the home failed when the occupants attempted to make a 911 call, Armstrong-Smith said, crediting neighbors with providing assistance.
“Norfolk County Fire Department recommends making 911 calls from traditional landlines or cell phones instead of using internet-based phone systems to avoid delays in response,” he said.
Total damage is estimated at $500,000. The property was insured. A neighboring home was also damaged.
Firefighters from Simcoe, Waterford and Delhi responded. The fire was extinguished by about 8 pm
The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office will be investigating, Armstrong-Smith said.