A woman was found dead following an early morning fire at a retirement residence in Bancroft, Ont., Thursday.
A fire alarm went off around 3 a.m. as officers and firefighters responded to the R.J. Brooks Living Centre – a retirement residence on Alice Street, about 105 kilometres north of Peterborough. It serves seniors over the age of 65.
About 50 residents were evacuated from the building and have been moved to the Bancroft Bible Chapel on Hastings Street North, next door to the centre, OPP said.
Bancroft fire chief Pat Hoover says firefighters put out the initial fire in a second floor unit in about 10 to 15 minutes.
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That’s when they discovered a body.
“Upon knocking down the fire in the unit, we discovered that the occupant was still in the room and had not evacuated with the other 47 residents,” he said.
The woman’s name has yet to be released.
Ruth Kelusky, a building manager, says they’ve been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support for the displaced tenants.
“We brought people from a smoke-filled building and we had no idea that people were going to be here offering us food, places, beds for people,” she said. “It’s just amazing.”
“It shows you what community does in times of need without even being asked,” added manager Scott Kelusky.
Tenants have only been allowed back in the building to retrieve some personal items. It’s not known yet when they will be allowed to return.
Bancroft OPP, Bancroft Fire Department, the Officer of the Ontario Fire Marshal and the Office of the Chief Coroner are investigating.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
More to come.