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Saturday's Erin house fire a $1.5-million 'total loss'

The fire on Eighth Line caused no injuries and is not considered suspicious
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Erin's fire department building. Keegan Kozolanka/GuelphToday file photo

ERIN – A house in rural Erin is a total loss following a significant structure fire causing an estimated $1.5 million in damages. 

Erin’s fire department responded to a reported fire at a single family home on Eighth Line, near Dundas Street just west of Erin village, early Saturday morning at 3:17 a.m.

A press release said upon arrival crews found the structure was fully involved and a neighbouring property, a planned subdivision, also had an exposure fire as hot embers ignited a wood pile.

The owner of the house was not present but a house sitter and their daughter were able to escape uninjured. 

Both Erin and Hillsburgh fire stations responded with a total of 10 vehicles and 33 firefighters on scene with a mutual aid tanker from Rockwood and three of their firefighters. 

The fire was under control just after 5 a.m. and the last crew left the scene at 10 a.m.

“The house sustained serious damage and is a total write-off with an estimated loss of $1.5 million,” the release said. 

The fire is not considered suspicious and was determined to have started on an outside deck. The exact cause is still under investigation.