Close X
Friday, November 8, 2024
ADVT 
National

2 Adults, 2 Children Killed In Oshawa, Ont., House Fire; 3 Others In Hospital

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Jan, 2018 01:32 PM
    OSHAWA, Ont. — Two adults and two children have been killed in a house fire east of Toronto that also sent three other people to hospital, fire officials said Monday.
     
    Fire Chief Derrick Clark said a man, a woman and two children — a boy and a girl — died in the morning blaze in Oshawa, Ont. The condition of the three people taken to hospital was not known, he said.
     
    "This is a tragic event," Clark told a news conference. "I want to offer my sincere condolences to the families, all the families involved in this."
     
    Firefighters faced heavy smoke and flames when they arrived at the scene a little after 8 a.m., and had to fight the flames from the outside before attempting to rescue those inside.
     
    "They knocked the fire down from the outside, knowing that there was reports of people trapped, and made entry and made their way up to the upper levels of the house," Clark said.
     
    At one point, fire crews had to pull back as conditions worsened before regrouping and resuming their search and rescue efforts, Clark said.
     
    The residence had been divided into a number of apartments, he said.
     
    "From our initial reports we have two units in this house, but possibly more," he said.
     
    The cause of the fire wasn't yet known, but damage was most extensive at the rear of the building, Clark said.
     
    Whether the home had working smoke detectors would be part of the investigation into the blaze, he said, noting crews faced difficult conditions.
     
    "This fire was at the height the snow storm this morning ... very difficult conditions, both for crews driving en route here as well as fighting this fire," he said.
     
    A woman who works at a nearby convenience store, CW FoodMart, said when she got to work, the home two doors down was on fire with smoke billowing out and flames shooting through the top floor.
     
    She said residents of the home often shopped at the store, including a family with two children and their mother.
     
    "It's very sad, very sad," said Elena, who didn't want to provide her last name.
     
    Oshawa Mayor John Henry said it's always upsetting when there's a loss of life.
     
    "To the families, we pass on our deepest sympathies," he said.
     
    Ontario's Office of the Fire Marshal will be working with local officials to investigate the blaze.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    'Hung Upside Down': Conductor Details Torture By Cops In School Murder

    'Hung Upside Down': Conductor Details Torture By Cops In School Murder
    Bus conductor Ashok's family has alleged that the police authorities beat him up, hung him upside down, tortured him and even sedated him to confess for the murder of Pradyuman in Ryan International School.

    'Hung Upside Down': Conductor Details Torture By Cops In School Murder

    Canadian Initiative Fuelled By Terry Fox's Dream May Be Only Hope For Young

    Canadian Initiative Fuelled By Terry Fox's Dream May Be Only Hope For Young
    VANCOUVER — Seeing children suffering with cancer when he was being treated himself broke Terry Fox's heart and inspired his Marathon of Hope.

    Canadian Initiative Fuelled By Terry Fox's Dream May Be Only Hope For Young

    U.S. Coast Guard Calls Off Search For Missing Calgary Man Off Florida Coast

    U.S. Coast Guard Calls Off Search For Missing Calgary Man Off Florida Coast
    CALGARY — The wife of a missing Calgary man whose boat was recovered off the coast of Florida says he may have been swept away while trying to rescue the family dog.

    U.S. Coast Guard Calls Off Search For Missing Calgary Man Off Florida Coast

    Ottawa-Based Priest From Quebec Suspended In Wake Of Sex-Abuse Lawsuit

    An Ottawa-based priest has been suspended after being named in a $2-million sex-abuse lawsuit filed on behalf of students who attended a Catholic boarding school in Quebec's Eastern Townships.

    Ottawa-Based Priest From Quebec Suspended In Wake Of Sex-Abuse Lawsuit

    Maryam Monsef Still Waiting On Citizenship Paperwork After Birthplace Revelation

    Maryam Monsef Still Waiting On Citizenship Paperwork After Birthplace Revelation
    OTTAWA — More than a year after Maryam Monsef revealed she was not actually born in Afghanistan, as she had previously believed, the Liberal cabinet minister is still waiting for the government to update her documents.

    Maryam Monsef Still Waiting On Citizenship Paperwork After Birthplace Revelation

    Canada Adds $35M To Help Bangladesh Women And Girls Amid Rohingya Crisis

    Canada Adds $35M To Help Bangladesh Women And Girls Amid Rohingya Crisis
    OTTAWA — Canada will spend $35 million over five years to help Bangladesh address the needs of women and girls as the country deals with a massive influx of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar.

    Canada Adds $35M To Help Bangladesh Women And Girls Amid Rohingya Crisis