Smoke alarm was functioning in fatal Concession Street fire
The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) says there was a working smoke alarm in a Mountain apartment that was engulfed by flames Tuesday night, leaving one man dead and another in critical condition.
In an email to The Spectator, OFM spokesperson Kristy Denette said investigators had confirmed there was a single, battery-operated smoke alarm in the unit and it “operated as designed.” OFM supervisor Jeff Tebby said there was also a firesuppression system in the affected unit.
The Hamilton Fire Department responded to reports of an “alarm condition” at the four-storey apartment complex at 326 Concession St. around 9:25 p.m. on Tuesday night.
Chief Dave Cunliffe said firefighters reported the smell of smoke when they arrived and the call was upgraded. Cunliffe said crews found a fire in one of the apartments and immediately began an “aggressive” search and rescue, while extinguishing the blaze.
Two people were pulled from the unit and firefighters performed emergency care until paramedics arrived, he added.
A 55-year-old man died in hospital, while a 58-year-old remained in hospital in critical condition Thursday, said Denette.
The on-site investigation into the fire has been completed, according to Denette. But “further analysis and research is ongoing to determine the origin, cause and circumstances for this tragic fire,” she added.
The damage estimate is $150,000.
Both a resident in the building and a neighbour down the street told The Spectator that the two men were brothers and had lived in the building for a few years. Both the resident and the neighbour declined to disclose their names, and police would not confirm the fire victims were brothers.
Const. Jerome Stewart said Wednesday that Hamilton police, who are also involved in the investigation, wouldn’t be releasing any additional details about the men and there was “no information” to suggest the fire was suspicious.
An autopsy was conducted Wednesday, but a cause of death has not been released.