No serious injuries were reported after a blaze broke out at a Whitby nursing home Monday morning.
The fire broke out at the Fairview Lodge home at Dundas and Cochrane streets around 9:40 a.m., Whitby Fire said.
At least eight fire trucks from Whitby and Ajax were called to the scene.
Aerial images showed thick white smoke billowing from the building as firefighters worked to control the blaze.
“All 192 residents in the area have been accounted for & are safely inside St John the Evangelist Church,” Durham Regional Police tweeted around 11:30 a.m.
Police instructed officials at nearby schools to keep students inside and windows closed due to concerns over smoke.
A number of area homes were also evacuated because of the blaze.
Police asked those who were unable to leave their homes to stay inside, close windows and turn off air conditioning and heating systems.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
On its Twitter page, Durham Region said those looking to check on loved ones who might be affected by the fire can call 905 666-6239.
@Josh_F is on Twitter. Remember for instant breaking news follow @cp24 on Twitter.
