Close X
Friday, November 29, 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

    RCMP Investigation At B.C. Ice Rink Continues One Month After Fatal Leak

    RCMP Investigation At B.C. Ice Rink Continues One Month After Fatal Leak
    FERNIE, B.C. — There's no word on when residents of the southeastern B.C., community of Fernie will have access to a rink where three men died of an ammonia leak a month ago.

    RCMP Investigation At B.C. Ice Rink Continues One Month After Fatal Leak

    Federal Government Earmark $327m Over Five Years To Fight Gun, Gang Violence

    Federal Government Earmark $327m Over Five Years To Fight Gun, Gang Violence
    OTTAWA — Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says the federal government is allocating up to $327.6 million over five years and $100 million a year after that to fight gun and gang violence.

    Federal Government Earmark $327m Over Five Years To Fight Gun, Gang Violence

    WATCH: In Vancouver Angelina Jolie Urges Un To Renew Efforts To Stop Sexual Violence In War

    WATCH: In Vancouver Angelina Jolie Urges Un To Renew Efforts To Stop Sexual Violence In War
    The Academy Award-winning actress was addressing foreign dignitaries and military officials attending the two-day United Nations peacekeeping summit, where the role of women in preventing conflict figured prominently.

    WATCH: In Vancouver Angelina Jolie Urges Un To Renew Efforts To Stop Sexual Violence In War

    Vancouver Police Arrest Man Caught Breaking Into Home Under Construction

    Vancouver Police Arrest Man Caught Breaking Into Home Under Construction
    A 37-year-old man is in jail after police watched him allegedly break into a home under construction on Vancouver’s west side on Monday evening. The suspect was arrested as he removed building supplies from the home.

    Vancouver Police Arrest Man Caught Breaking Into Home Under Construction

    Police Escort Anti-Pipeline Protesters Away From Trudeau Media Event

    Police Escort Anti-Pipeline Protesters Away From Trudeau Media Event
    Hayley Zacks and 24-year-old Jake Hubley stood with signs protesting the pipeline before telling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau he can't fulfil his climate action promises if projects like Trans Mountain are approved.

    Police Escort Anti-Pipeline Protesters Away From Trudeau Media Event

    Organizers Announce Hiatus For 2018 Tall Tree Music Festival

    Organizers Announce Hiatus For 2018 Tall Tree Music Festival
    Tall Tree Music Festival co-founder and director Mike Hann blames the low Canadian dollar and an oversaturated concert market for the hiatus.

    Organizers Announce Hiatus For 2018 Tall Tree Music Festival