Editorial – Let Us All Learn From A Preventable Tragedy

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local

Everyone was shocked when the news broke about two people who had lost their lives in a fire in Port Hope on Friday, October 8, 2021.

Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services Chief Dan Smith said it’s unusual to have a daytime fire and even more unusual to have people trapped.

But that’s exactly what happened.

Shortly after 11 a.m. emergency services were dispatched to a duplex on Bruton Street in Port Hope to a working house fire.

Firefighters fought through flames to rescue the two victims who were on the second floor and rescued them. But it was too late. Tragically both died.

First and foremost everyone in the community wants to wrap their arms around the relatives, and friends of the victims. The deaths are tragic and we all grieve for their loss.

But when the news broke on Monday evening when it was confirmed one smoke alarm on the second floor of the home had the batteries removed, the shock set in again.

OFM Investigator Mike Bird said, “if the alarm on the second floor was operational it would have given the two people up there warning with time to escape.”

Let that sink in.

“If the alarm on the second floor was operational it would have given the two people up there warning with time to escape.”

These deaths were preventable.

For the cost of one or two batteries, these two people would have had enough warning to escape.

Writing this column isn’t casting blame on anyone. We have all made mistakes. Rolled through a stop sign, done something wrong. No one is perfect.

But let’s educate ourselves, our communities and make a commitment that we will not let this happen again.

There easily could have been more serious injuries or deaths with firefighters battling intense heat to reach and rescue the victims.

Every firefighter on that call wishes they could have done more. It’s not something that goes away with time. Each and every firefighter will forever remember that day. Every second and every minute what they did during the time the people were trapped. The tragedy is not only engrained on the family and friends, but emergency services there were there that day.

Tragedies like this not only happen in the big cities, but in smaller communities like Port Hope. We know that now.

It’s the law to have working smoke detectors. It came into effect years ago.

The phrase, “it won’t happen to me” is lost in this tragedy. It can happen to anyone. And it did to two individuals on Bruton Street in Port Hope.

Not having a working smoke detector is a easy problem to fix.

You don’t have to be wealthy to have one.

If you can’t afford one, call your local fire department. They will not only give you one – but they will help you install it – for free.

Investigators with the Office of the Fire Marshal said they see to many deaths as a result of smoke alarms that aren’t working.

Let’s do our part right now, this second. Check each and everyone of your smoke alarms in your residence. If it wakes anyone in the house up because it’s late when you’re reading this – let them know why you did. They’ll be grateful.

Let’s all learn from this tragedy. Let these deaths not be in vain – please.