Tragic Brampton Fire Claims Five Lives, Including Infant

Rescue teams continued to sift through the debris of a home in Brampton, Ont., on Monday after police confirmed that all three individuals who were previously unaccounted for following a tragic fire last week have been found – two deceased and one unharmed.

Peel Regional Police and the Office of the Fire Marshal provided an update on the investigation into the early morning blaze last Thursday that ravaged a house and led to the evacuation of nearby residences.

Police announced on Friday that remains thought to belong to an adult had been discovered among the ruins.

On Monday, Const. Tyler Bell reported that investigators located another set of remains over the weekend, while it turned out that the third individual was not present during the fire and is currently safe at the hospital with family.

“We’re very fortunate that the third outstanding member is safe,” Bell said. “At the time of the fire, he was away for work and had to return in transit and there was a delay in verifying his whereabouts.”

Bell stated that four people lost their lives at the scene: three women and a young child. One individual taken to hospital was pregnant and required emergency surgery for delivery, but unfortunately, their baby has since passed away, he mentioned.

A 5-Year-Old Boy Is ‘Doing Quite Well,’ Say Authorities

Investigators say they have not located anything at the house that would indicate criminal activity. (Grant Linton/CBC)

The constable noted that four people hospitalized have stabilized; however, some remain in critical condition. One patient, a five-year-old boy, is “doing quite well,” according to Bell.

While investigators haven’t speculated about what caused the fire yet, Bell indicated on Monday that they haven’t uncovered any signs suggesting criminal involvement.

Mayor Patrick Brown suggested last week that an “absentee landlord” owned the property and had prior compliance issues with its basement unit.

Bell refrained from providing specifics about how many people lived in the home and emphasized that managing victims and witnesses is currently their top priority.

“I understand there will be many questions regarding who occupied this residence and how it was divided,” said Bell. “That’s not something we are ready to address right now; it will emerge as part of our ongoing investigation.”

Very little remained of the structure on Monday as crews utilized cranes and excavators to remove debris from around the area. A small parkette directly across from where it happened stayed closed off while heavy machinery blocked parts of nearby streets along with police tape securing adjacent houses.

Smoke Detectors Found Inside Home

Neharika Sethbhalla, who lives close by, expressed her distress upon hearing about this devastating event and witnessing its aftermath. She didn’t see it unfold overnight but woke up due to sirens as emergency services rushed in.

“It’s really sad. Should not happen; really unfortunate,” she shared.

Sethbhalla mentioned having kids related to her who attend school just across from where it occurred; they’ve walked past during school pickup times.

“Whenever we cross over or come pick up kids after school, it’s tough explaining what happened,” she added.

Pegg said smoke detectors were present inside but they’ll need to determine if they were functioning when flames broke out.

“This event serves as a stark reminder of how destructive fires can be,” Pegg remarked while encouraging residents in Ontario to test their smoke alarms regularly and rehearse their escape plans.

Source link