In just the last week, there have been four instances of houses in Guelph going up in flames.
On Monday, a deadly blaze took the lives of two women at a townhouse on Edinburgh Road who were trapped on the top floor.
A press conference was held March 14 by the Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg, Guelph’s Fire Chief Brian Arnold, and other members of the Guelph Fire Department to discuss the fires. During which, Arnold urged members of the community to “wake up.”
“We have had four house fires in the last three days and that is truly unprecedented – we have never seen this before in our careers. It is very taxing on our resources but more importantly on our personnel,” said Arnold.
Arnold said the home at 383 Edinburgh Road South did not have working smoke alarms. Moreover, when the Guelph Fire Department canvassed the other townhouses in that complex, they did find many units also did not have working smoke alarms.
“I am pleading with our citizens to wake up, I’m asking adults to wake up. We teach our children in schools, in community organizations about fire safety and smoke alarms. But our children do not drive to the hardware store,” said Arnold.
“Our children are vulnerable and rely on adults, I’m asking the adults to wake up.”
Another blaze broke out of a home on West Acres Drive Monday night. Thanks to smoke alarms, everyone inside was able to make it out.
Following that another fire started at a home on Kirkland Street around 1 a.m. Tuesday. One woman is still in hospital from her injuries.
Arnold said members of the department, from dispatchers, suppression firefighters and fire investigators acted “admirably” during the circumstances and have been given support from the department’s Critical Instance Stress Team.
“They are exposed to traumatic events, which could be carried with them for the rest of their lives,” said Arnold. “They would rather not be exposed to such trauma. While we choose to serve, we are human beings and we cannot avoid the moral injury.”
During the press conference, the members of the fire department confirmed they didn’t see any suspicious activity with any of the fires that happened in Guelph. Arnold said they have concluded the on-scene investigation for the home on Edinburgh Road but an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
With the recent events, Arnold said the Guelph Fire Department will be going door-to-door this spring, in areas of Guelph where data indicates there is a need for fire safety education.
Arnold also said if anyone is not purchasing or keeping their smoke alarms up-to-date due to financial restrains, they can contact the Guelph Fire Department for assistance.
Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg offered his condolences to the family and those affected by the tragedy at Edinburgh Road this week.
Pegg said this is a trend they are seeing right across the province, just in the first couple months of 2024 alone. Pegg is urging people in Ontario to check smoke alarms to prevent further incidents.