Residents in a Mississauga apartment building are feeling unsettled after a fire, which authorities suspect might be arson, sent at least 18 individuals to the hospital, including a firefighter and a police officer.
Some residents who spoke with mentioned that this was the second fire in just two days at 920 Inverhouse Apartments. Police confirmed another incident occurred the night before and indicated that both fires could be connected.
Oscar Maldonato, who lives on the second floor, said he was awakened early Monday by alarms, shouting, and the scent of smoke. He managed to escape the building quickly and watched as firefighters used ladders to save residents trapped on balconies above.
“It felt straight out of a movie,” he stated. “You don’t really expect that kind of thing.”
The emergency call came in around 3 a. m. Monday, according to Ryan Baird, deputy chief of Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services, who spoke at a news conference on site. He reported that firefighters discovered the blaze on the third floor of the building.
Baird noted that while they extinguished the fire swiftly, it generated thick smoke that complicated evacuation efforts for residents. Approximately 16 individuals were rescued from balconies on the third and fourth floors, Baird added.
Peel paramedics informed that at least 18 people were transported to hospitals on Monday morning. Two were reported to be in serious but non-life-threatening condition.
According to acting Sgt. Amanda Steenson with Peel police, one firefighter and one police officer were among those taken to hospitals. Baird also mentioned that Ontario’s fire marshal had been called in to investigate.
Two Fires in Less than 24 Hours
Many residents, including Maldonato, told about a smaller fire occurring just hours earlier near one of the stairwells on the same floor but was extinguished quickly by firefighters.
Acting Sgt. Amanda Steenson with Peel police said that because both incidents took place at the same location is part of why authorities suspect arson. (Claude Beaudoin/CBC)
Steenson stated this connection is one reason why police find the fire suspicious.
“We are aware of the previous incident that took place at the same location and we are looking at the possibility that the two incidents are connected,” she told reporters while adding it’s too soon in their investigation to draw any conclusions.
Steenson mentioned police will be reviewing CCTV footage from inside the building as part of their inquiry.
Maldonato expressed his shock over what happened: “I don’t even know who would do something like that,” he remarked.
Olivia Scandlan, one resident treated for smoke inhalation along with Philip Drewniak evacuated together from their home.
Both shared with their observation that smoke appeared to come from both stairwells; however, police have not confirmed if there were multiple ignition points for this fire.
‘It was just black smoke for pretty much half the descent,’ Drewniak explained.
‘I had a lot of soot on my face,’ Scandlan added
‘They moved into this building about a month ago,’ Sandlan said living there has otherwise been great.’ It’s definitely shocking event for sure,’ she continued.’But I mean everyone here is very kind.’
Most residents including Scandlan and Drewniak received clearance to return home according Steenson’s update Monday afternoon.
However , Steenson noted some people remained displaced from ‘one area’ withinthebuilding. But chose not specify details regardingwhich area or how many folks affected.
Source link
