No working smoke alarms in fatal Waterloo house fire
Fire officials have confirmed there were no working smoke alarms at a fatal house fire in Waterloo earlier this week.
Fire investigators still have a lot of details to sift through before they will have definite answers on what happened, but the Ontario Fire Marshal said if the home had a functioning alarm and a proper escape plan, the people inside would have had a much better chance to get out safe.
“The terrifying trend of no working smoke alarms continues in many of the fires we are seeing across Ontario, which is very concerning as we know they save lives,” Jon Pegg, the Ontario Fire Marshal, said at a news conference Thursday.
Multiple people were sent to hospital after the fire on Graham Street in Waterloo on Monday, June 5, including a 54-year-old woman who was pronounced dead.
A 58-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were also rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. At least seven dogs and cats were also killed.
“Really the situation in Waterloo is there’s a common thread with working smoke alarms, compliance,” Waterloo Fire Chief Richard Hepditch said.
Investigators say a fire can become fatal in less than one minute. They're pleading with the public to make sure there are working smoke alarms on every floor of their homes.
“We’re trained by Hollywood to see fires, you know you can see right through a house and the smoke is clear – that isn’t reality. If you’ve ever been around a real house fire, it’s black thick smoke that is choking,” Pegg said.
Pegg said tragic fires also impact first responders called in to supress the flames or investigate afterwards. Officials say some firefighters feel a sense of failure when someone dies, even if they have done everything they can to help.
“It is very difficult for our crews. We sit at the kitchen table and talk with our firefighters, and you can see the pain,” Brampton Fire Chief Bill Boyes said.
While it is law to have working smoke alarms inside your home, the fire marshal said not enough residents are taking it seriously. Pegg said over the last week there has been multiple house fires in Ontario with clear indications of non-functioning smoke alarms or no smoke alarms at all.
Last year, 133 people died in fires in Ontario, which set a new 20-year record.
“The law is in place. It is absolutely rock solid. People are just choosing not to follow it. So we’re going to look at everything we possibly can to drive compliance,” Pegg said.
Next week the Office of the Fire Marshal is holding a summit with different fire services around the province to look at ways to get people to take fire safety more seriously. They will explore ideas like tougher fines, tougher laws or different education campaigns.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.