A fatal apartment fire in Hamilton has claimed the life of one man and his cat, while a woman remains in hospital in stable condition following a dramatic early-morning rescue.
Hamilton Fire Chief David Cunliffe reported that emergency crews responded to 1266 Fennell Avenue East, near Mountain Brow Boulevard, shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday after receiving reports of a structure fire.
"First arriving crews reported heavy smoke and fire venting from a fourth-floor apartment at the rear of this building. They were also told that there may be people inside," Cunliffe told reporters at the scene.
Two fire crews immediately entered the building and made their way through intense conditions to reach the affected unit on the fourth floor.
"They encountered heavy smoke, heavy heat and flame as they entered," the fire chief explained. "One crew went to the front of the apartment, where they located a female."
That woman was successfully rescued and transported to hospital in critical condition. Her condition has since been upgraded to stable.
A second crew entered the bedroom area, where the main fire was located, and discovered a male occupant who could not be revived. The man succumbed to his injuries.
"I also want to report that sadly a cat has also perished as a result of the fire," Cunliffe added.
Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze but faced extensive overhaul work due to significant damage from both fire and smoke throughout the apartment unit.
While other tenants in the building were temporarily evacuated, most have since been allowed to return to their units. However, some fourth-floor residents remain displaced as Hamilton police maintain control of the scene for investigation purposes.
Both Hamilton Fire Services and the Office of the Fire Marshal are conducting investigations to determine the cause of the deadly blaze.
This story is based on reporting by David Chen from Global News.
