Two people are dead, four others, including a child, were injured, and three more are missing after a fire broke out at a Brampton townhouse complex early Thursday morning.
Emergency crews were called to the area of McLaughlin Road and Remembrance Road just before 2:45 a.m. Video shared with CityNews shows the semi-detached house fully engulfed in flames as fire crews arrive on the scene.
Neighbours described the heroic efforts made by some of the residents, including a mother who is eight months pregnant, managing to get herself and her five-year-old son onto the roof of the garage in order to flee the flames.
“She came outside by herself, and that was so brave of her,” said Sushma, who lives directly next door. She says she was woken up by the woman pounding on her door.
“She was asking for help and had her son over there on the roof above the garage. She went inside my house to the window so she could get her son.”
When fire crews arrived, two people were found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. Four others, including the young boy and his mother, were rushed to the hospital with serious burns and smoke inhalation. They were listed in stable condition late Thursday afternoon. Two others escaped unharmed.
As firefighters worked to get the blaze under control, it was quickly determined that three people, including a toddler, were unaccounted for.
“We believe 11 individuals are associated to the structure in total, nine of which being a multi-generational family and two potentially associated to a sub unit,” said Peel Police Acting Sgt. Tyler Bell.
The investigation into the origin and cause of the blaze is underway. There is no indication at this point if the smoke detectors were in working order.
Mayor Patrick Brown says the owner of the home is an absentee landlord and has refused several inspections over the last six years, adding that the city’s bylaw department was in “mid-stream” of enforcing orders when the fire happened.
“I would note this is not licensed to have multiple tenants and so all those details will come out as the investigation occurs,” said Brown. “But I think this really speaks to the fact why it’s so critical that if you’re having multiple renters, that you adhere to building code and fire code, and I hope, I hope that we don’t have to hear about another tragedy like this one.”