Skip to content

Fatal fire was accidental, concludes Ontario Fire Marshal probe

A 72-year-old Bradford woman died in apartment building blaze; She died as a result of 'complications due to fire'
2019-07-31FireSceneMK
Tarps have been used to cover the windows of a ground-floor suite where a 72-year-old Bradford woman died after a fire erupted in her living room. Miriam King/BradfordToday

 A post mortem on the woman who died in Tuesday night's fire on Centre Street has been concluded, although details have not been released.

Preliminary indications are that the victim, a 72-year-old Bradford woman, died as a result of “complications due to fire.” Her identity has not been released.

The woman was pulled from her ground-floor apartment by firefighters shortly after 8 p.m. on July 30. She was suffering from smoke inhalation and burns.

She was treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital. From there, she was taken to the burn unit at Sunnybrook in Toronto, where she passed away.

Investigation by the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has concluded that it was an “accidental fire,” said Fire Investigations Supervisor Lonnie Schubert.

He declined to provide additional details, noting “it's a coroner’s case.”

BWG Fire & Emergency Services have said that both the apartment unit and the building at 33 Centre St. had working smoke alarm systems that were audible when fire crews arrived.

The fire was mostly confined to the living room of the ground-floor unit. Two Good Samaritans held back the flames with garden hoses - something officials say limited the fire's spread.

BWG fire officials estimated the damage in the $100-150,000 range.


Miriam King

About the Author: Miriam King

Miriam King is a journalist and photographer with Bradford Today, covering news and events in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.
Read more

Reader Feedback