Investigators are looking into the cause of a fatal townhouse fire in Mississauga that claimed the lives of a man and a woman believed to be in their 50s.
Emergency crews responded to the scene around 7:30 p.m. Sunday at a residence on South Millway near Burnhamthorpe Road and Erin Mills Parkway.
“Crews encountered heavy fire in front of the townhouse,” Mississauga Fire Chief Tim Beckett said. “They had to knock the fire down in order to gain entry into the townhouse, at which point in time they found the two deceased.”
Beckett said a man was pronounced dead at the scene and a woman was rushed to hospital in life-threatening condition, but later succumbed to her injuries. Both were found on the first floor.
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Fire officials said the two-alarm blaze started inside the garage of the townhouse and quickly spread throughout the home.
A neighbour told Global News he saw smoke emanating from a parked car on the victims’ driveway.
“I’d seen the car was pulled out. It was burned out,” Henry Schoenmakers said. “The car was burned out, and smoke – just smoke was coming out of it. There were no flames at that time, just smoke.”
The fire chief said he had heard reports that a propane barbecue was in use prior to the fire but could not confirm if it was a contributing factor in the blaze.
“I’ve heard all those speculations and that’s exactly what they are right now, it’s just speculation,” Beckett said. “So we’re really focused on looking at everything and all possibilities.”
READ MORE: 1 dead after house fire in Mississauga
Fire officials have yet to release the names and exact ages of the victims.
A neighbour told Global News the couple who lived at the home were Irene and Jim Headley. They said the two had three children, one of whom lived at the townhouse.
Beckett said two residences next to the townhouse were evacuated Sunday night as a precaution due to the smoke. Residents were allowed to return on Monday.
There’s no word yet on the cause of the fire. The office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has been notified.
— With a file from Shallima Maharaj