Three seniors have died after a devastating house fire on Chambery Crescent in Markham, a tragedy that has left the surrounding community shaken. The blaze broke out just before 7 a.m., and investigators have remained on the scene throughout the day. What began as a rescue effort has now turned into an inquiry into how three lives were lost.
Police say three individuals were inside the home at the time of the fire. They were two women in their 70s and a man in his 80s, all of them taken out of the house and rushed to hospital after the flames took hold. The ages of those involved have underlined how vulnerable the residents were once the fire spread.
The outcome, confirmed later, was grim. Officials learned that the three people had succumbed to their injuries and died in hospital, turning an early morning emergency into a fatal one. The deaths have weighed heavily on neighbours, several of whom described their shock at seeing such a serious fire take hold so quickly.
The damage did not stop at the one property. The fire also spread to a neighbouring home next door, which was damaged as well, although no injuries were reported there. Residents who spoke about the scene recalled how the roof had been left badly burned, calling the loss of life deeply emotional and sad.
The investigation is being led by more than one agency. York Regional Police are working side by side with the Ontario Fire Marshal, which is the lead investigation agency when it comes to the fire, including how it started and its cause. Officers said they would wait for the conclusions of the fire marshal before drawing their own.
For now, the early assessment points away from foul play. Police said that at this time they do not believe the fire is suspicious in nature, and that there is no public safety concern in the area. Even so, the Ontario Fire Marshal is continuing its work, and anyone who may have been in the area is asked to contact police with any information they have.