MANY PHOTOS: Firefighters Battle Downtown Abandoned House Fire on Chatham Street

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Fire is out at a house near the corner of Chatham and Parent streets in East-Downtown Windsor. Windsor Firefighters were called to the scene for heavy smoke and fire showing just after 7pm.

Firefighters determined that fire was in the attic and proceeded to attempt to extinguish it. Holes were made for ventilation in the abandoned and previously-boarded-up house and firefighters attempted to knock down fire at the rear of the attic. Around 7:30pm, firefighters were required to switch to a “defensive” strategy as fire began to eat through the roof at the rear of the building.

Heavy smoke drifted across Riverside Drive and slowed traffic. Many people parked at the Burt Weeks fountain to stop and look and take pictures.

The district chief on the scene called a ladder truck to the scene to prepare for an aerial attack, this later proved unnecessary when firefighters inside the house were able to put the fire out.

A family of raccoons appeared to have been living in the attic, escaped onto the roof from the front windows and climbed down a tree in the backyard. Erie Wildlife has been called to take care of the raccoons.

No word yet on the cause of the fire. Witnesses on scene said the house had been boarded up for several years. An investigator has been called to the scene.