A family of five sound asleep in their Amherstburg home was awaken by firefighters pounding at the door and a massive blaze in the garage.
Fire crews were responding to a separate medical emergency at around 4:30am Tuesday.
"When he pulled out of the fire hall, he looked across [the street] and saw a fully involved garage, attached garage to the house," says Assistant Deputy Chief Ron Meloche.
"He immediately switched vehicles, pulled into the driveway, knocked at the door, woke the homeowners up and got them out of the house. Then we began our attack at that point."
The mother, father and three children were not injured.
The blaze on Middle Line Rd. between Concession Rd. 3 and Concession Rd. 4 caused $800,000 damage. The roof collapsed and officials say it appears the house is a total loss.
Investigators — including staff from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal — will be on scene Tuesday trying to determine a cause. So far they know it started somewhere in the three-car garage. The investigation is set to continue Wednesday.
"It got into the attic of the garage and went into the attic of the house," says Meloche. "A truss roof system, they're very unreliable after [coming into contact with] fire. It becomes very unsafe."
He says the home had working smoke detectors.
A home is pictured after a fire in the 3300-block of Middle Side Rd. in Amherstburg on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy the Amherstburg Fire Department)