Updated as of 3:20pm
The Saugeen Shores Fire Department battled a stubborn blaze that damaged two Port Elgin homes on Tuesday morning.
Firefighters responded just after 11am to reports of a fully engulfed home at the corner of Bradford St. and Eastwood Dr.
Fire Chief Phil Eagleson says when fire crews arrived, they found flames visible from the roof and spreading.
"Upon arrival, the fire had vented through the roof and heavy flames were showing from the roof of the home," says Eagleson. "The fire spread to the adjacent home and we were able to contain it to the exterior of the adjacent home, both homes are heavily damaged."
He says the contents of the home where the fire originated are completely destroyed and the neighbouring home has significant exterior damage and smoke damage on the interior.
Eagleson says the owner of the home where the fire originated was at work at the time and all other neighbours are uninjured and accounted for, though a family dog died in the fire.
He says conditions were challenging and it made for a difficult fire to fight.
"It's dry, it's windy and it spread quickly, it was a challenging fire, given the closeness of the two homes," says Eagleson. "But we stopped it from spreading to other homes."
Eagleson says an investigation into the cause is underway.
