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

    Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman Thinks CFL Edmonton Eskimos Should Change Their Team Name

    Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman Thinks CFL Edmonton Eskimos Should Change Their Team Name
    Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman thinks the CFL Edmonton Eskimos should change their team name.

    Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman Thinks CFL Edmonton Eskimos Should Change Their Team Name

    Calgary 20-Something Engineers Revive Investment Club Concept To Talk Stocks

    Calgary 20-Something Engineers Revive Investment Club Concept To Talk Stocks
    Some see it as a throwback to another era, but a group of 20-something Calgary engineers say they heartily recommend membership in an investment club after running one for three years.

    Calgary 20-Something Engineers Revive Investment Club Concept To Talk Stocks

    CCS Launches Service For Canadians To Get A Free Copy Of Their Credit Report And Score

    CCS Launches Service For Canadians To Get A Free Copy Of Their Credit Report And Score
    The Credit Counselling Society is pleased to announce the launch of a free and confidential “credit report counselling service” for Canadians in the Lower Mainland.

    CCS Launches Service For Canadians To Get A Free Copy Of Their Credit Report And Score

    Man Shot In Aldergrove Home Invasion, Police Say There Are 'Multiple' Suspects

    Man Shot In Aldergrove Home Invasion, Police Say There Are 'Multiple' Suspects
    Langley mounties were called to the 26500 block of 29th Avenue after 911 calls reported hearing gunshots shortly before 8 p.m.

    Man Shot In Aldergrove Home Invasion, Police Say There Are 'Multiple' Suspects

    VISAFF 2017 to be held in Surrey during November

    VISAFF 2017 to be held in Surrey during November
    VISAFF runs from Nov. 16-19 and will screen a host of international and Canadian films through the four day event.

    VISAFF 2017 to be held in Surrey during November

    Oscar Arfmann, Accused In Murder Of Abbotsford Police Officer, Fought Mental Illness

    Oscar Arfmann, Accused In Murder Of Abbotsford Police Officer, Fought Mental Illness
     A family member of an Alberta man charged with the first-degree murder of a British Columbia police officer say the accused had been struggling since losing his wife five years ago.

    Oscar Arfmann, Accused In Murder Of Abbotsford Police Officer, Fought Mental Illness