3 sent to hospital, 3 pets dead after east-end apartment fire

Hamilton’s fire chief says three people were sent to hospital and three pets were found dead following an early morning bedroom fire in an east-end apartment.

Dave Cunliffe says fire crews responded to a structure fire shortly after 12:30 a.m. at 221 Melvin Ave. on Sunday.

The initial crews observed smoke visible from the exterior of the 16th floor in the 18-storey residential building. Cunliffe says the call was immediately upgraded to a multiple alarm fire, prompting additional resources.

Upon reaching unit 1605, the crews were met with a bedroom engulfed in flames and encountered heavy smoke both inside the unit and hallway.

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Additional crews found an occupant, who had managed to evacuate themselves, but they sustained injuries from burns and smoke inhalation. The fire chief says the occupant was taken to hospital in critical but stable condition.

Cunliffe says two other residents from neighbouring units were also taken to the hospital due to smoke inhalation and three pets in the fire apartment were found dead.

The estimated cost of damage to the apartment is around $250,000.

The cause of the fire remains unknown and authorities have alerted the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office to investigate the incident further.

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