$1M aerial truck destroyed in fire at under-construction townhouse complex in Vaughan

A fire truck valued at $1M has been destroyed in a large fire that broke out early Sunday morning at an under-construction townhouse development in Vaughan.

A fire truck valued at $1M has been destroyed in a large fire that broke out early Sunday morning at an under-construction townhouse development in Vaughan.

Deputy chief Grant Moffatt, of Vaughan Fire, told reporters at the scene that crews had set up an aerial vehicle to battle the blaze, but it caught fire and the firefighters manning that truck were unable to move it back in time as the aerial was activated.

"Unfortunately, it's a total loss," he said.

The fire, which was declared a three-alarm shortly after firefighters arrived on scene, erupted shortly after 4 a.m. in the area of Rutherford Road and Highway 27. 

Moffatt said that the wind posed a problem for crews as it caused the fire to spread quickly to several unoccupied residences nearby. Roughly 35 unoccupied townhomes in various stages of construction caught fire.

There were also reports of explosions "possibly from propane cylinders on site," Vaughan Fire said.