‘Holy cow, not in my building!’: Hale St. residents reflect on yet another apartment balcony fire rescue

Fire investigators were on scene following an apartment fire on Hale Street, CTV London's Sean Irvine has more on a resident who was alerted by a beloved pet.

Cheryl Lockrey watched Sunday afternoon as London firefighters fought to help two people trapped on an eighth-floor apartment balcony at 632 Hale St.

Crews had reached the fire using an aerial lift.

Lockrey, who lives a few floors below, said fire crews arrived shortly after 3 p.m.

Just a few minutes earlier, she was asleep when suddenly, her dog woke her.

“And, she jumped on me, and that’s unusual for her.”

Moments later, Lockrey said fire alarms sounded.

“So, I went out to the balcony, and I looked over, and there was fire going up the side of the building.”

Lockrey was about to step back inside her unit when a blast occurred.

“It was just a great big pop! And then the window exploded and went into the parking lot.”

The blaze quickly trapped some residents in their units.

Many who live at the London-Middlesex housing operated facility are seniors.

“They couldn’t get out at all because they couldn’t walk. So, therefore, the elevators are down and tackling the stairs is a no,” said resident Regina Wood.

Firefighters contend that staying put and placing wet towels under the door is often the best plan in a high-rise blaze.

But for those trapped in the burning Hale Street unit, an aerial rescue was the only way out.

“Two people in the unit came out through the aerial unit. And I believe two people and a dog came out through the building,” said London Fire Dept. platoon chief Colin Shewell.

He added that one person rescued from the unit was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

Investigators remained on scene until 10 p.m. Sunday. On Monday, they announced the fire was not suspicious. The cause has been determined to be careless smoking.

No matter what caused it, Wood hopes it never happens again.

“Holy cow, not in my building! Yeah, it’s something you never want to see.”

Shewell credited his crews for tackling two balcony rescues in one day.

Lockrey also thanked firefighters and her dog for waking her up.

“She’s my protector. She always is my safeguard.”