1 dead following overnight house fire in Simcoe

An overnight house fire in Simcoe has claimed the life of one person.

Emergency crews were called to a home on the corner of Robinson St. and Queen St. South just before midnight.

Neighbors reported seeing a large amount of smoke coming from the home. They told CHCH News there are two units inside the home, one apartment on the main floor and another one upstairs.

“Volunteer firefighters arrived on the scene, gained entry to the home, battled the blaze, two people did escape, with smoke inhalation injuries. However, one person was located deceased in the home,” said Acting Sgt. Ed Sanchuk of Norfolk County Ontario Provincial Police.

The Norfolk County fire department says the blaze was confined to a single room in the home. The house had working smoke alarms but they were installed too low on the wall to provide early warning signs. The fire department says smoke rises to the ceiling, so that’s where your smoke alarms need to be.

The Fire Marshal’s office has taken over the investigation. They are looking into the cause, where it started, and the circumstances around the fire. No details have been released yet on the person who died.