Leslieville FireUncategorizedJuly 5, 2017Last Tuesday morning, a large fire engulfed a semi-detached house in Leslieville. The flames spread rapidly to the attached home next door damaging both houses extensively. It happens that the fire originated from the attached home that was undergoing renovations. As the surrounding neighbours evacuated their homes, one neighbour witnessed the family crying on their front lawn as their home burned down. Damages were estimated by a Toronto Fire captain were over $500,000. Now a week later, Toronto police are now investigating the fire as an act of arson. Fortunately no one was injured in the fire. As tragic as this story is, there many more stories like this that don’t make the headlines. Although suspected as an act of arson, vacant and under renovation homes are inherently prone to incidents that can end up not only costing a lot of money to the owner but also endanger the people around it. It is prudent to have a trusted neighbour or relative frequently visit the home to make sure that everything is in order as damages can get exponentially worse if they are left unattended. A vacant home could also be uninsured under a standard homeowners policy. Making sure to inform your insurance broker of any material changes could prevent your home from burning a hole in your pocket.