By Canadian Press

Oshawa, Ont., rowhouse fire leaves four people unaccounted for

Mar 22, 2021 | 12:06 PM

OSHAWA, Ont. — A fast-moving fire that tore through an Oshawa, Ont., townhome left four people unaccounted for on Monday as weeping family and friends feared the worst for their loved ones.

Authorities said the blaze broke out around 1 a.m. and sent five people to hospital. Officials did not identify the four who remained missing but family and friends worried two men and two children may not have made it out of the home.

Aaron Clague said his friend lived in the home where the fire started and managed to escape with his wife and their youngest son.

“He told the kids to follow them. They didn’t get out,” Clague said. “The assumption is the worst right now.”

Sharon Powell, another family friend, said she came to the home after hearing about the blaze.

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“All I could think of is the children,” she said through tears. “The two boys slept upstairs, I don’t think they had a chance to make it out.”

Tammy Wilson said her uncle, Paul LeBlanc, lived on the top floor of the three-storey house and her family had not been able to contact him.

“It’s nerve-racking,” she said. “It will be a while before we find out anything, but you have to hold out some hope.”

Wilson said her parents live directly across the street and both are emotionally exhausted with worry.

Leblanc does not have a phone and no one has heard from him since 5 p.m. Sunday when he got home for the night, Wilson said.

Kim Kirouac, meanwhile, was looking for information about her friend Terry Clark, who she said also lived on the top floor of the home.

“I’m hoping it’s not true,” Kirouac said, brushing away tears as she spoke. “I hope he got out alive.”

She said she had coffee and breakfast with Clark every day at Gate 316, a nearby drop-in centre.

“I just had coffee with him yesterday,” she said as she cried. “But not this morning. It’s so sad. So sad.”

In all, residents from seven homes have been displaced, officials said.

Fire Chief Derrick Clark said the most damaged home had nine occupants, five of whom were sent to hospital for treatment. One remains in hospital but the others have since been discharged, he said.

“We’ve got four residents unaccounted for and, you know, at this time it’s not looking like it’s going to have a positive end, but we’re going to continue our investigations,” he said.

Clark said the blaze had caused extensive structural damage, making the units too dangerous for fire crews to enter for the time being.

“The structure is extremely unstable right now. The fire was very, very intense, very difficult for our firefighters last night, and it’s going to take us some while to get things sorted out,” he said.

The chief said the injured were treated for smoke inhalation, burns and cuts.

He also noted that some residents of the units were being sheltered at a local hotel and were receiving aid from the Red Cross and social service agencies.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the blaze, but Clark said the Ontario Fire Marshal and Durham Regional Police were investigating as well.

—With files from Paola Loriggio

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2021.

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press