One person has died and another remains in critical condition following a house fire in Barrie’s north end on Sunday evening, according to police.
Emergency crews responded to the blaze near Livingstone Street East and St. Vincent Street at approximately 6:30 p.m. Five people were inside the home when smoke alarms sounded. By the time firefighters arrived, flames were coming through the rear windows, and the unstable condition of the building made entry difficult.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about an hour and continued monitoring hot spots throughout the night.
Three occupants — a 54-year-old woman, a 29-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman — managed to escape without injury, police said. A 51-year-old man who re-entered the burning home to search for someone believed to be in the basement suffered serious injuries. He was taken to hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
A fifth occupant was found dead inside the heavily damaged residence. Police have not yet released the person’s identity.
Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal will investigate the cause of the fire.