1 dead, another in serious condition after townhouse fire in Guelph
Cause of fire not yet determined
One person is dead and another is in hospital with serious injuries after a townhouse fire in Guelph Wednesday morning.
Fire crews arrived at a townhouse on Sunset Road in the Willow Road area of Guelph just before 7 a.m. after receiving multiple calls from witnesses.
Two people had left the townhouse but two people remained trapped inside. One person was found in the basement without vital signs and was pronounced dead. Another person was found on the first floor of the home and taken by paramedics to Guelph General Hospital.
One dog was also rescued from the home.
Guelph Fire says five stations responded to the fire and crews "encountered flames and large amounts of smoke from the front door" when they entered the home to search for people.
The Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified and will lead the investigation into how the fire started.
Guelph Fire says that investigation will also determine if there were working smoke alarms on each level of the home.
"The Guelph Fire Department urges all owners, residents and property managers to check that each level of their home has a functional smoke alarm installed," the fire department said in a media release.
"Guelph Fire urges residents to test alarms monthly, replace the batteries every year, gently vacuum dust and cobwebs from the alarms, replace smoke alarms that are older than ten years, and that occupants practice a home escape plan."