A 54-year-old St. Catharines man has died after a house fire on Merritt Street near Ball Avenue West on Sunday morning, Niagara Regional Police said.
Officers from the service's 1 District, which covers St. Catharines and Thorold, responded along with St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services to the report of the fire at approximately 7:45 a.m. on Nov. 8.
Firefighters found a large working fire burning inside the home. The 81-year-old owner of the house managed to escape and was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The owner's son, a 54-year-old St. Catharines man, was found inside the home without vital signs, according to police. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Two dogs also died in the fire.
Damage to the home is estimated at more than $100,000.
The Office of the Fire Marshal has been called in to determine the cause and origin of the blaze. At the same time, detectives with the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau are looking into the circumstances surrounding the man's death.
Police said the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, but neither the cause of the fire nor the cause of death appears to be suspicious at this time.
Investigators are appealing to the public for help. The Office of the Fire Marshal and the Criminal Investigations Bureau would like to speak with any witnesses, or with anyone who may have video footage of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service's 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009865. Tips can also be provided anonymously through the NRPS tip line at 289-248-1058.
