Two adults are dead after an overnight house fire in Brampton that also left four others, including a child, in critical condition.
Brampton Fire and other emergency crews were called to a structure fire near McLaughlin Road and Remembrance Road around 2:13 a.m. Thursday, police and paramedics confirmed.
Two adults were pronounced dead at the scene and multiple residences were evacuated.
Three adults and one child were taken to the hospital in critical condition with burns and smoke inhalation, according to paramedics. The child is believed to be between the ages of four and five, police said in an update Thursday
Andy Glynn, fire chief with Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, said the deceased were found “just outside” the building and “just inside,” at a news conference Thursday morning.
The Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal arrived on the scene Thursday morning and is working with first responders to find out what caused the fire.
Tyler Bell-Morena, acting sergeant with Peel Regional Police, told reporters police believe a multi-generational family of nine and two other people lived in the building.
Three members of the multi-generational family are unaccounted for, Bell-Morena said at a news conference later Thursday morning. One of the missing people is believed to be a child, according to police.
Tyler Bell-Morena, acting sergeant with Peel Regional Police, told reporters police are not sure if those missing were home at the time.
Fire crews will use an excavator to take the home apart to search for them, Chief Glynn said.
“If we aren’t able to locate them, it doesn’t mean they’re inside, it just means we can’t locate them at this time,” he said at the news conference.
When fire crews arrived, the fire was large and the building had begun to collapse in spots, Glynn said.
“The amount of fire involvement in this structure was significant, which prevented our crews from fully accessing the entire building.”
Glynn said the two buildings on either side of the residence were also damaged in the fire and they will remain evacuated while the home is being dismantled.
First responders are asking people to avoid the area and police, fire and paramedics will remain on the scene to help as the investigation continues. Glynn said fire services will likely be there until Friday to monitor the fire risk.
