One person is dead and five people were sent to hospital amid a multiple-alarm residential blaze in central Hamilton Friday morning.
Firefighters say the deceased was an “unaccounted” for individual who was discovered after flames were put down and crews began a salvage of the two-story home on Century Street.
Hamilton fire chief Dave Cunliffe said the person was not seen during the early stages of a search and rescue at the height of the incident.
“During these operations crews were unable to complete a full search of the second floor due to floor collapse in the rear portion of the house,” Cunliffe said.
“Crews have now been able to view this area and have located the body of a deceased person.”
Hamilton paramedics say one person was sent to a trauma centre in critical, life-threatening condition, while two others were also transported to hospital with serious injuries.
Two others are in stable condition at a Hamilton hospital and one other person was treated on scene.
Crews were called out to the home on Century just before 9:30 a.m. between Ashley and Wentworth Street North.
One person was trapped at a window on the second floor upon the arrival of firefighters, according to Cunliffe.
“The person who was on the covered porch roof jumped to the ground to escape the heat and smoke just as firefighters arrived,” he explained
“Firefighters using ground ladders were able to quickly rescue the person from the second floor window and the two people from the roof of the adjacent house.”
Mark Worthen, who lives next door to the residence, says he grabbed buckets of water in a futile effort to try to quash flames he saw coming from a door at 69 Century.
“I tried to put it out, but the flames went through the house so fast,” Worthen told Global News.
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“They were trying to renovate the place, trying to put up new drywall and everything. Now, it’s all burnt to hell.”
Worthen’s wife Patricia Asgill says she was on the phone to 911 when she saw flames.
She said firefighters arrived quickly from a nearby station in “less than a minute,” after her call.
“All we heard was … a bang in the kitchen and a couple of guys, … came running outside without their clothes on and stuff,” Asgill recalled.
Firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from extending into homes on either side of the affected residence despite the roof collapsing on the home in flames.
Estimated cost of damage to the Century Street residence is in excess of $850,000.
Ontario’s Office of the Fire marshal has been notified and will be assisting with an investigation.
Police have closed off a Century Street between Ashley and Wentworth Street North.
Ashley Street, which was closed during the fire, has now been re-opened between Wilson and Cannon Street East.
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