Fire breaks out at Dundas and Bathurst home for 3rd time, neighbour says

An explosive two-alarm house fire near Dundas and Bathurst streets forced about a dozen people living nearby out of their homes and into the freezing cold.

The side of the Markham Street home was blown out during the blaze, which occurred just before midnight on Monday.

It’s not clear if anyone was inside the building at the time, as the house is currently under construction.

As crews worked to put out the fire, area residents were evacuated from their homes as a precaution and sheltered in a TTC bus to keep warm. They have since been allowed back into their homes.

One neighbour said he heard a loud blast, alerting him to the fire.

“My bedroom overlooks the building next door. I was almost asleep when [I heard] a massive bang. I opened the blinds and the house next door was on fire … called 911,” evacuee James Duggan said.

He said this is the third fire in about a year at the home.

“Six weeks ago, there was an attempted arson attempt here. And the reason the house is under construction is because it was burned down about a year ago I think. This is third time in 12 months,” Duggan said.

There are reports that the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office has been called in to investigate.

No injuries have been reported.

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