Members of the LaSalle Fire Service assisted with a Fire Marshal's Office investigation on Christmas Day into a fatal house fire that occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 24, 2019, on Todd Lane. DAX MELMER / WINDSOR STAR
Investigators have determined a residential fire on Todd Lane that claimed one man’s life on Christmas Eve was caused by careless smoking.
Officials with the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal concluded their investigation into the blaze Wednesday afternoon and determined the cause to be accidental, according to LaSalle Fire Chief Dave Sutton.
Crews with the LaSalle Fire Service arrived at the home in the 2100 block on Todd Lane at approximately 4:40 p.m. Tuesday. In a Wednesday news release, Sutton said “crews encountered a well-involved fire with heavy smoke conditions.”
Firefighters forced their way into the home for search and rescue and fire control. Inside, they found a man who had already succumbed to heavy smoke and fire conditions, the release said.
Twenty-five firefighters spent approximately three-and-a-half hours on the scene.
Investigators estimated the damages at $150,000.
Link to original article on lfpress.com: Careless smoking blamed for fatal LaSalle fire