Two kids and an grownup died following a a number of hearth at an condo constructing at 35 Brock St. in Hamilton Sunday morning.
Crews responded to the constructing, situated close to Eastwood Park within the metropolis’s North End, at 10:16 a.m. for studies of a construction hearth, Hamilton Fire Chief David Cunliffe informed reporters.
Crews arrived to heavy smoke and flames seen from the constructing, Cunliffe mentioned within the information launch Sunday.
It was additionally reported that there have been presumably two kids nonetheless within the condo.
When firefighters arrived on the primary ground of the constructing, they had been greeted with “excessive warmth, excessive smoke, excessive flame,” Cunliffe mentioned.
Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe mentioned two kids and an grownup died in a fireplace Sunday morning, Jan. 26, 2025. More than 60 firefighters had been referred to as to the scene on Brock Street, between John and Catharine Streets North.
Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe mentioned two kids and an grownup died in a fireplace Sunday morning, Jan. 26, 2025. More than 60 firefighters had been referred to as to the scene on Brock Street, between John and Catharine Streets North. (Andrew Collins/CBC)
More than 60 firefighters had been on scene as soon as the alarm was upgraded to 3rd grade, in keeping with the discharge.
“As firefighters raced to start search and rescue operations, they encountered heavy smoke within the stairwell, together with quite a few individuals making an attempt to evacuate,” Cunliffe mentioned.
Firefighters made a number of rescues and helped quite a few individuals out of stairwells and hallways, however sadly two kids and one grownup died because of the fireplace, Cunliffe mentioned.
“Our ideas and prayers are with those that have been affected,” he mentioned.
The Red Cross helps tenants who had been displaced by the fireplace. The Fire Marshal’s Office was notified as a result of severity and casualties of the fireplace, Cunliffe mentioned.
The explanation for the fireplace is at present below investigation and it’s unclear how intensive the harm to the constructing is, he mentioned.
13 individuals taken to hospital
Dave Thompson, superintendent with the Hamilton Paramedic Service, mentioned there have been 20 items on scene on the top of the incident.
Paramedics transported 13 individuals to hospital – eight in steady situation, 4 in critical situation and one one who had no very important indicators, he mentioned.
Of the 13 sufferers, the youngest is a month outdated and the oldest is 77 years outdated, Thompson mentioned.
He mentioned paramedics assessed 4 different individuals on the scene who refused to be taken to hospital.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath mentioned she was “grateful for the bravery of our first responders” and expressed condolences to these affected in a social media publish Sunday.
“Absolutely devastating information,” he mentioned in a publish to X, previously generally known as Twitter.
: My coronary heart goes out to the households of the victims. “
Village. Cameron Kroetsch, who represents Ward 2 the place the constructing is situated, additionally shared his condolences in an X-rated publish.
“This is devastating for the neighborhood, the households of those that died within the hearth, the neighbors and the firefighters who had been concerned within the rescue efforts,” he mentioned.
“My workplace will likely be accessible to anybody who wants our assist.”
Burlington Street was closed for a couple of hours on Sunday between Hughson Street and Catherine Street whereas emergency companies personnel responded to the fireplace. The street has since reopened.
