A weekend fire at a home in Barrie has resulted in one fatality and left another person critically injured, according to police reports.
Authorities responded to a structural fire in the northern part of the city near Livingstone Street E. and St. Vincent Street around 6:30 p. m. on Sunday, as stated by Barrie police in a news release issued Monday.
At the time of the incident, five individuals were present in the house when smoke alarms activated, police noted.
A 54-year-old woman, a 29-year-old man, and a 27-year-old woman managed to escape unharmed, as reported by Barrie police to CBC Toronto via an email statement.
However, a 51-year-old man who re-entered the house to assist someone he thought was trapped in the basement sustained severe injuries. He was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition, according to police.
Firefighters later discovered a fifth person deceased inside the residence, which had suffered extensive damage. The identity of this individual has not yet been disclosed.
Barrie police Chief Kevin White mentioned that flames were shooting out from the back windows upon firefighters’ arrival and that entering the building proved difficult due to its unstable condition. He indicated it took approximately an hour for crews to control the blaze while they monitored hot spots throughout the night.
White advised against re-entering burning structures.
“We obviously recommend that they not re-enter a home to try and save people risking their own lives. We get there very quickly. We were at this house within a few minutes,” White said.
“In this case, the fire was significant and challenging to get in, but it obviously risks more lives than the firefighters to try and save someone inside the home.”
Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal will investigate what caused this tragic fire, according to police information.
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