“There’s a fire, we can’t get out”: Brampton mayor says boy called 911 as deadly fire raged
Published January 22, 2022 at 1:47 am
One of three young Brampton brothers killed in a housefire on Thursday called 9-1-1 asking for help minutes before emergency crews arrived on scene of the deadly blaze.
In an interview with insauga.com on Friday, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said it was one of the young victims of Thursday’s tragic blaze that alerted first responders about the fire that would later claim his life.
“Words don’t describe the enormity of the loss this family and this neighbourhood are reeling with today,” Brown said.
“One of the children in the house called 9-1-1 and said ‘save us, there’s a fire, we can’t get out’,” Brown told insauga.com.
Brown said first responders arrived at the home six minutes later but the fire had already engulfed the house.
“It was one of those fires that really took off, and we had a fire fighter that risked his own life trying to get in,” Brown said.
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Emergency crews were called to a townhouse complex on Ellis Dr. near Torbram Rd. and Clark Drive shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Thursday.
Three boys aged 9, 12 and 15 were pulled from the burning home and rushed to hospital in life-threatening condition where they were later pronounced dead. A firefighter was also treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Peel Regional Police Const. Akhil Mooken told reporters that the boy’s mother went to drop off another child at school and returned home “and discovered the home was engulfed in flames.”
One local community group of mothers has rallied behind the family with a GoFundMe page to help with rehousing, funeral costs and food.
The fundraiser had raised more than $35,000 of a $25,000 goal by 10:00 a.m. on Friday, and the goal was increased to $50,000 a short time later. More than$58,000 had been raised by 1:30 p.m.
The three brothers are survived by their mother and a 5-year-old brother, the group said in a post.
Brown said the city Peel Regional Police have made resources available to the victim’s family, and Brown also gave the boy’s mother his personal number “to let them know that “the City of Brampton is a family and we’ll be there for them.”
“It’s a really, really tough day for the city and I know the neighbourhood is shattered by this incident,” Brown said.
News of the boy’s deaths led to a wave of support for the family from members of the Brampton community. Flags at all City of Brampton facilities were lowered to half-mast on Thursday and the City Hal clock tower was dimmed in memory of the three children.
You can donate to the family by visiting the Malton Moms GoFundMe page.
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