One man perished in a house fire in Hamilton Township on Saturday, April 27, 2019.
Three stations from Hamilton Township Fire Department were called to the address of 1291 Ontario Street approximately one kilometre north of Highway 401 for a structure fire at approximately 8:16 a.m.
Smoke was coming from areas around the house when crews arrived and were told there may be possible one person still inside along with several animals.
Firefighters frantically search the living areas of the home on the main floor, but found the man believed to be in his 60’s in the basement.
Firefighters rescued the victim from the home and placed him in a stretcher where Northumberland County Paramedics were waiting.
Emergency services performed CPR while the person was transferred to an ambulance. A Hamilton Township firefighter assisted paramedics with CPR as the victim was taken to Northumberland Hills Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Wesley Grills was notified the home where he grew up in and where his mother still lives was on fire while he was at work.
“It’s very tragic,” said Grills speaking to Today’s Northumberland.
“This is my childhood home.”
Grills said the only thing that was in the basement was storage and laundry facilities.
Two dogs were also rescued from the fire. Despite the best efforts of firefighters one dog died, while the other was given oxygen and transported to a nearby veterinarians office by the Northumberland Humane Society.
Two cats are still missing.
The Northumberland OPP Crime Unit and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office have been called in to investigate the cause of the fire.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
