A nine-year-old boy was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition after a fire at a home in east Markham on Friday, Jan. 2.
Emergency crews were called just after noon to the house near 16th Avenue and Ninth Line. York Regional Police initially reported that no one had been hurt, but firefighters found the boy inside with critical injuries as they cleared the home. He was taken to hospital.
Police said four people were in the house when the fire started.
There were four people in the house at the time of the fire but only one was taken to hospital.
— James Dickson, York Regional Police
Fire spread from the garage
Kent Mortson, a Markham battalion fire chief, told CP24 that firefighters had received reports that a nine-year-old boy was trapped inside.
When crews arrived first on scene, we have heavy smoke and flames coming out of the garage into the house.
— Kent Mortson, Markham battalion fire chief, to CP24
With the fire blocking the front door, crews had to find another way to reach the boy, Mortson said.
Unfortunately, the fire got to the front door, so we were unable to get in, but crews did get by the fire and were able to get the boy as quickly as we possibly could.
— Kent Mortson, Markham battalion fire chief, to CP24
Fire marshal investigating
The Office of the Fire Marshal was called in to investigate. Roads in the immediate area were closed while crews worked at the scene.
We are at the initial stages of the investigation, and we will be looking at the origin, circumstances and the cause around this incident.
— Jim Demetriou, Office of the Fire Marshal
As of Friday evening, officials had not released a cause or any update on the boy's condition.
