'Really bad night' in Puslinch as fire destroys homes

PUSLINCH TOWNSHIP – An early morning fire Friday at a condominium residential community south of Guelph is not considered suspicious at this point.

OPP Const. Josh Cunningham said the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office will be investigating a fire at Mini Lakes on County Road 34 as a matter of protocol.

“At this time it’s not considered suspicious and it’s not believed to be connected in any way to the fires we’ve had in the rural parts of the county lately,” Cunningham said at the scene of the fire Friday morning.

One man was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Mini Lakes is located just east of Aberfoyle. It is a private complex comprised of modular homes where residents live year-round.

Cunningham said the fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. with Wellington County OPP and Puslinch Fire and Rescue arriving shortly after to find a structure fire.

A total of four mobile homes were involved with two being completely destroyed along with some outdoor sheds on the properties.

Damages estimates are being pegged at over $1 million.

The fire started at a home on one street then spread to the home that backed on to it that was on a different street. Both homes were completely destroyed.

A man who lives three doors down from one of the destroyed homes said he was awoken at shortly after 3 a.m. by the owner of that home banging on his door.

“She wanted to let everyone know what was happening in case it spread,” said Gary Steel.

Steel said residents gathered on the street hoping the fire wouldn’t spread from the initial home to others, but it ended up jumping to the woman’s house, he said.

“It was a really bad night. It’s a real tight community; we all know each other around here. We’re all friendly,” Steel said.