OFM: No indication of working smoke detectors in both triple fatal house fires in Hamilton

Updated:

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The Hamilton Fire Department and the Ontario Fire Marshal provided an update into the investigations of two triple fatal fires that occurred in the last two months in Hamilton.

In both, the OFM says preliminary investigation findings indicate there were no working alarms inside either homes at the time of the fires.

In the Grenfell St. fire that claimed the lives of three people on October 1st, the OFM says there were four smoke detectors in the house, three of those were on the second floor, all without batteries. The fourth, was in an entrance way of a home on the lower level, but lack of smoke and heat due to the poor placement of the alarm would not have provided early detection to residents. Initially, this house was thought to be a rooming house, but Hamilton Fire officials now say that is not the case.

In the Niagara St. fire of August 6th, preliminary findings revealed the remains of one smoke alarm, but investigators were unable to uncover a corresponding battery to this detector. A mother and two of her children died in the fire, officials say 11 occupants were inside the house. The cause has also not yet been determined in this fire.

Hamilton Fire Chief David Cunliffe spoke at the conference, stressing not only the importance of working fire alarms, but also the importance of proper maintenance and proper placement.