A carelessly discarded cigarette butt is being blamed for a $175,000 house fire in west London.
The blaze broke out on the deck of a multi-unit, two-storey home at 142 Wharncliffe Rd. N. around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.
London firefighters arrived to find thick smoke and flames coming from the home. They determined the fire had spread from the deck into the attic area of the house.
Crews were able to get the fire under control quickly.
No one was hurt, but damage is estimated at $175,000, according to fire officials.
Investigators found the blaze was caused by "improperly discarded smoking materials."
"The London Fire Department reminds smokers to be sure to always extinguish smoking materials carefully and fully," a fire department spokesperson said in a statement.
The fire temporarily caused delays for drivers during the evening commute as all four lanes of Wharncliffe Road North had to be closed.
