UPDATE:
The cause of a fire that destroyed a home on High Street Saturday night is "unknown," say Orillia Fire Department officials.
The fire started at around 8 p.m. and all occupants of the single-family home had fled the structure before firefighters arrived.
Fire crews were able to get the stubborn blaze under control at about 1 a.m. High Street was reopened shortly thereafter.
There were 15 firefighters on the scene and no injuries were reported.
"The temperature was -26 which made fighting the fire difficult," said an official from the scene early this morning.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Orillia firefighters are on the scene of a confirmed structure fire on High Street in the city's south end tonight.
Crews responded at about 8 p.m. and arrived to find flames shooting out of the roof of the home. Heavy, thick smoke could be seen throughout the neighbourhood.
According to a family member, the home's occupants and the family dog managed to escape the blaze.
The fire has proven stubborn on a frigid cold night that has also proven a challenge for firefighters as the temperature, with the wind chill, is at about -28 Celsius.
An official with the Orillia Fire Department said at about 10 p.m. that firefighters are engaged in a "defensive attack."
High Street is closed between James Street and Bond Street; officials are asking people to avoid the area.
