Five individuals from the same family receiving medical treatment following their rescue from a blazing residence in Richmond Hill.
In the early hours of Labour Day, a tragic fire broke out in a multigenerational family home in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The incident occurred near Skywood Drive and Rollinghill Road, in the area of Yonge Street and Gamble Road.
First responders, including York Regional Police, paramedics, and Richmond Hill Fire, were called to the scene shortly after 3 a.m. Initial information suggests that there were working fire alarms in the home, with the 911 operator and the first firefighters reporting hearing smoke alarms during the incident.
Upon arrival, four patients were assessed at the scene by York Regional Paramedic Services, but four were found lifeless. A fifth person, a child under 12 years of age, was transported to a hospital in critical condition. The remaining patient was also transported, though their current condition remains unknown.
Jim Kettles with the Office of the Fire Marshal stated that the four people pulled from the burning home were trapped, with at least one found in a second-floor bedroom. A red gas canister was found near the home, but its connection to the fire is unclear.
At the time of the statement, five people associated with the house were in critical condition at various hospitals in the area. The cause and origin of the fire are still unknown, and it is too early for the Office of the Fire Marshal to determine if the fire is suspicious.
The fire is being investigated as possibly suspicious by the police. Homes in the area were evacuated during the firefighting efforts, but residents have since been allowed to return. Firefighters remain on the scene to monitor for hot spots.
It is important to note that there is no publicly available information linking the affected family to the suspected fire near Yonge Street and Gamble Road in Richmond Hill. CP24 Reporter Beatrice Vaisman is reporting on the incident.
Our thoughts are with the affected family and the community during this difficult time. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
