Two adults, two children killed in Oshawa fire
OSHAWA, Ont. — The sound of a blast followed by frantic cries for help rang out Monday morning as a fire tore through a home, claiming the lives of two adults and two children east of Toronto.
A man, a woman, a boy and a girl died in the blaze in Oshawa, Ont., the city’s fire chief said, and three other people in the house that was divided into apartments were taken to hospital with injuries.
“This is a tragic event,” said Fire Chief Derrick Clark. “I want to offer my sincere condolences to the families, all the families involved in this.”
Laura Green, who could see the burned home from her backyard, said she was outside smoking with her husband when the fire broke out.
“We heard a big bang and ... saw a flash and people coming out of the house screaming ‘ fire’ in a total panic,” Green said. “We saw the whole thing go up in flames. It was horrific.”
Green said she is on friendly terms with a couple — a boyfriend and girlfriend — who live in the back of the burned home. She was not sure if either was harmed in the blaze.
“I know that ( the boyfriend) ran in when one of his friends was screaming, ‘ my child,’ ” Green said. “I don’t know if he came back out.”
A woman working 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 two children and their mother.
“It’s very sad, very sad,” said Elena, who didn’t want to provide her last name.
The names of those killed in the fire aren’t being released until police have confirmed their identities with next- of- kin.
The blaze was reported a little after 8 a. m. and firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames that had to be fought from the outside before crews could attempt to rescue those trapped inside.
At one point, fire crews had to pull back as conditions worsened before regrouping and resuming their search and rescue efforts, Clark said.
“The firefighters made several heroic attempts to get in and get to the upper levels and they were pushed back,” Clark said. “They fought their way up through intense heat and smoke conditions ... and after retreating, they forced their way back in again.”
Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal will be working with local officials to investigate the blaze.