A Hamilton resident is in hospital after being found at the scene of a basement fire with no vital signs Sunday afternoon.
It happened around 12:45 p.m. at a home on East 44th St.
Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said the man was sitting on the driveway when first responders arrived on scene but then experienced a medical emergency and lost had no vital signs.
“From the information that we’ve gathered, prior to calling 911, it appears as though the occupant was trying to fight the fire. So he may have taken in some smoke while he was doing that,” said Cunliffe.
Investigators from the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office are investigating due to the medical emergency.
Hamilton fire says the incident does not appear to be suspicious at this time but the cause of the blaze is still unknown.
“Our message to our residents, if there’s a fire in your house, smoke detector is going off, get out of the house and call 911. Please, don’t stay in the house and try to fight the fire,” said Cunliffe.