BRAMPTON, Ont.  “There were no operational smoke alarms in a house that caught fire last week,” the Office of the Fire Chief said on Thursday, adding that a sixth person had died in the blaze.
A fire broke out in the family home early Monday, March 28, killing three children and their two parents, and sending a sixth person – identified by his family as the children’s grandmother, Bonnie O’Dea – to hospital. in critical condition.
“The Office of the Fire Chief can confirm that a sixth person died as a result of the tragic fire that took place last month on Conestoga Drive in Brampton.  “Our thoughts are with the family and the community during this difficult time,” a spokesman for the office said in an email on Thursday.
Sean Driscoll said the office was continuing its investigation into the cause of the fire, which so far has found no smoke detectors in the building.
“The Office of Fire Marshal urges everyone to try their smoke alarms, as running smoke alarms are one of the easiest ways to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire,” he said.
The dead were identified as O’Dea’s daughter Raven Alisha Ali-O’Dea, 29, Nazir Ali’s son-in-law, 28, and their children – seven-year-old Layla Rose Ali-O’Dea, eight. Jayden Prince Ali-O’Dea and 10-year-old Alia Marilyn Ali-O’Dea.
The children’s grandfather said his daughter and her husband had recently renovated the entire house, hiring a team to replace the floors, stove, lights and paint.  The renovation work was completed two months ago.
Luis Felipa previously told the Canadian press that he wondered if the smoke alarms had been re-installed after being removed for painting.
Felipa said he now hopes to become a fire prevention advocate and plans to use the money raised through a fundraiser and memorial service on May 21 in Brampton to buy smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors for I can not afford them.
Brampton Fire Chief Bill Boyes said last week that firefighters and firefighters searched homes in the area last week and found that some of them had no smoke alarms.
“We can not see more people in Ontario and in the town of Brampton getting lost in a fire,” Boyce told reporters outside the burned-out house last Tuesday.  “It is completely unacceptable and can be prevented.”
This Canadian Press report was first published on April 7, 2022.