Footage showing house on fire in Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada, on New Year's day.

According to reports the original fire, which spread to a second house due to strong winds, was caused by a power line shorting.

Footage showing house on fire in Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada, on New Year's day.

According to reports the original fire, which spread to a second house due to strong winds, was caused by a power line shorting.

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Heavy winds off of Lake Erie and a lack of water hampered firefighters’ efforts in Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada as they battled a house fire Thursday, January 1, 2015.
Wainfleet Fire and Emergency Services fire Chief Harry Flagg said firefighters were called out at 7:30 p.m. for the report of smoke in a home at 11561 Beach Rd. East.
Arriving firefighters found smoke and sparks coming from the home. The homeowners left the home after calling 911.
Firefighters and tanker trucks from the surrounding municipalities of Haldimand County, Port Colborne and Pelham, were called upon to assist Wainfleet fight the fire.
The first home burned completely to the ground, while a second caught fire due to the heavy winds — wind speeds were shown to be at least 30 km/h and gusting to 50 km/h — pushing flames into it.
Firefighters were trying to protect a third home in the closely-packed cottage area of the township.
Flagg said the cause of the original fire was electrical in nature. He said the homeowners reported a popping noise and then power to their home went out.
He believed the high winds caused the power line to the home to short out and start the fire.
Multiple Wainfleet, Haldimand, Port Colborne, and Pelham units and firefighters were on scene at 2 a.m. Friday.