Person dies in fire in Sarnia

Neighbour says firefighters had been called to address a few times in past year

One person died in a fire Wednesday on Stuart Street in Sarnia, police say.

The fire in a one-storey building on the residential street happened around noon.

“One person was found deceased in the residence,” said Const. Nelson Amaral.

The victim's identity was not being released until next of kin could be notified, he said.

Police, fire and ambulance vehicles were at the scene near the corner of Stuart and Davis streets and yellow police tape blocked off a section of the neighbourhood.

Heavy smoke could be seen coming from the building, at times, as firefighters in breathing gear worked at the scene.

“The scene is going to be held and the Ontario Fire Marshal has been notified,” Amaral said.

Fire Chief Bryan Van Gaver said firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames when they arrived.

“They did discover one victim early on,” Van Gaver said. “They got him out and he has been taken to hospital.”

Van Gaver said the building appeared to be a one-storey garage with living quarters.

Geoff Freeman just moved a few months ago into his house on

Forsyth Street that backs on the building that burned.

“I was in the basement and just cleaning up,” when a neighbour knocked on their door and told them about the fire, he said.

“We had no idea.”

When he and his wife came out of the house, the backyard was full of smoke.

“We don't know him, personally,” Freeman said about the person who lived in the building. “We met him once.”

Myles Vanni, executive director of the Inn of the Good Shepherd, said he was called by someone who said there was a fire on the street where he lives. His house is right across the street from the building that was burning.

“We have our little guy and the babysitter, so I come running and they're not there,” he said.

Police later found them both safe in a park, Vanni said.

There had been a lot of police activity where the fire happened, he said.

“This is probably about the third fire in the last year” at the same address, Vanni added.

Police are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact Det. Brian Halfpenny at 519-3448861, ext. 6213, or Sarnia-lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).