A 17-year-old boy has suffered life-threatening injuries in a house fire in South Bruce Peninsula early Tuesday morning.
Just before 4 a.m., Bruce Peninsula OPP were dispatched to the fully engulfed house fire on Spry Lake Road. Police located three people inside the residence and a fourth person staying in a second structure on the property.
The other people in the home included a 44-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman. An 18-year-old woman was in the second structure.
The South Bruce Peninsula Fire Department and Bruce County Paramedics also attended the scene and all of the occupants were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Bruce Peninsula OPP Const. Adam Belanger said two of the victims were suffering from smoke inhalation, while a third suffered burns.
Police are on scene and continue to investigate, while the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has also been contacted. Spry Lake Road between Bruce Rd. 13 and Bryant Street has been closed until further notice.
The home was completely destroyed in the fire, Belanger said.
Anyone with information that can assist police in their investigation is asked to call 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. A web tip can be submitted at www.cstip.ca.
Meanwhile, Deb Diebel, site manager at the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre down the road, has started to collect items the family may need.
Diebel said she noticed the flashing lights from emergency vehicles at the fire scene on Tuesday morning and felt compelled to help.
She said she doesn’t know the family, but they have some space where they can store household items like furniture and clothing, and food, such as canned goods, to help them out when the time comes that they may need it.
“They are neighbours and apparently they just moved in recently,” Diebel said. “I really don’t know anything about them, but it is kind of shocking when you drive into work and see that and you know you have the resources to help out a bit.”
Those who want to help can contact Diebel at 519-379-0864.
Link to original article in The Owen Sound Sun Times: Serious fire in South Bruce Peninsula