| News Release Communiqué |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2005
Toronto – The cause of the house fire
that killed seven children and their mother in the town of West Lincoln on
November 8, 2004 cannot be determined, according to Office of the Fire Marshal
(OFM) investigators.
“The fire is believed to have started in the living room on the main level of
the home,” said Mike Stewart, lead investigator from the OFM. “But because of
the extensive damage caused by the fire, the exact cause and origin cannot be
determined.”
The severe damage caused by the fire to the house and its contents made the
investigation arduous. Investigators were able to seize a number of exhibits
from the home that were sent to the Centre for Forensic Sciences and OFM Fire
Investigation and Evaluation Section for examination. Included in the exhibits
were the remains of the living room fireplace. Electrical components were also
examined and x-rayed.
“In some fire investigations, the severe damage makes it impossible to pinpoint
a cause,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle. “While we do not know what
caused this devastating fire, we must do all we can to prevent fires in our
home. We also want to remind everyone about the importance of having working
smoke alarms. One smoke alarm is not enough. Smoke alarms should be installed on
every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas.”
People are also reminded to develop and practice a home fire escape plan so that
everyone in the household knows what to do when the smoke alarms sound.
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For more information, contact:
Bev Gilbert, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3178
Chris Slosser, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3120
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