No one was hurt, but ten people have been displaced by a serious fire in downtown Aylmer.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at a building on the south side of Talbot Street East (Highway 3) between John and King streets late Monday night.
The structure that was on fire is in a row of buildings which house a mix of commercial and residential spaces. All of the buildings were safely evacuated, Aylmer police said.
Firefighters on scene of a fire on Talbot Street East in Aylmer, March 20, 2023. Photo courtesy of Aylmer police.
Firefighters from the Aylmer Fire Department, Malahide Fire Prevention, the St. Thomas Fire Department, and Central Elgin Fire battled the stubborn fire through the night. They were able to stop the flames from spreading to attached buildings.
At one point, police urged onlookers to leave and stay away from the area due to "toxic" smoke.
"Approximately 10 persons were displaced due to fire. No injuries reported," said Police Chief Zvonko Horvat.
The community has already begun to rally behind those displaced by the fire, offering assistance, shelter, food, and supplies.
Damage is considered to be significant as one of the buildings will likely need to be torn down.
Police anticipate Talbot will remain closed between John and Queen streets well into the day Tuesday. John Street between Sydenham Street and Chestnut Street West, which was closed to allow hoses to be run from a hydrant across the road, has since reopened, police said.
Early indications are that the fire was caused by unattended cooking. The investigation is ongoing.