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Homeless Man Loses Pets in Second Fire at Boarded-Up Apartment
10 Nov
Summary
- Former tenant sheltered with cats in fire-damaged building after eviction.
- Second major fire broke out early Sunday, killing two of the tenant's cats.
- City issued an order for the owner to demolish or repair the damaged building.
A former tenant, identified as 47-year-old David, has shared his harrowing experience of squatting with his cats in the fire-damaged apartment building at 745 Dundas St. following a deadly blaze in July. Unwilling to part with his pets, David resorted to re-entering his apartment through a secured window. He asserts that he was not the only one occupying the boarded-up building, with three other individuals reportedly staying there nightly.
Tragically, a second significant fire erupted early Sunday morning, which David believes was caused by someone using a torch to cut copper pipes in the basement. The fire resulted in the deaths of two of his cats, leaving him devastated and homeless. The City of London has since issued an order to the building's owner, Radium-1 Development Ltd., demanding a decision within 14 days regarding demolition or repair. This follows previous Ontario Fire Code violations identified at the property earlier in 2025.
