Two separate house fires involving suspected explosions in Hamilton sent three people to the hospital on Thursday morning, one with critical injuries, firefighters say. Speaking from the scene, Hamilton Fire Chief David Cunliffe told CP24 that one happened at a home at 8 Lampton Place in the city’s east end just after 9 a.m. He said a structure was “fully involved” when crews arrived and showed signs of an explosion, adding that this fire is suspected to be gas-related. “We got reports from crews of significant smoke, black smoke plumes in the air,” he said. Neighbours and a person from a nearby industrial business helped rescue the two residents from the home, he said. Cunliffe said they were both taken to the hospital, with one in “critical, life-threatening” condition and the other in serious condition. Speaking to CP24, local resident Frank described hearing a loud “whoomp” before witnessing the home’s front windows blown completely onto the lawn. “The front of the house was caved in, and then I saw a small fire, and then smoke, and then the fire got bigger and bigger, and then it just went to an inferno,” he said. The fire is now under control, and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) have been notified. ‘Large debris field’ The other fire happened at 182 Springside Dr. on Hamilton Mountain earlier this morning, just after 7:30 a.m. where crews found a fully involved structure and a “large debris field,” according to the fire chief. There, one person suffered burns and was taken to the city’s burn unit in serious condition. That fire was also brought under control, but Cunliffe said its cause remains uncertain. The Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), and the gas company have also been notified about this incident. Cunliffe said there is “absolutely no link” between the two fires. This is a breaking news story. More details to come…
