Fire marshal investigating after trapped trio pulled from Sarnia blaze

Ontario Fire Marshal investigators were in Sarnia Tuesday probing a blaze the previous night from which three trapped residents were rescued.

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Three residents – two on the upper floor, one on the roof – were trapped by flames in the only stairwell of the building at the corner of Mitton and George streets about 8 pm, Sarnia fire officials said. Firefighters used ladders to pull them to safety.

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The three residents were unhurt, but the cause of the fire is being investigated by the Ontario Fire Marshal, Sarnia fire officials said.

Ontario Fire Marshal investigator Jim Kettles, who was on site Tuesday afternoon, said he wasn’t sure what the cause was or where the fire started inside the building as they were just starting their investigation.

“Those things take a little bit of time,” he said.

Because it was so early in the probe, Kettles said he couldn’t comment on if it was considered suspicious.

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“Honestly, I don’t know at this point,” he said.

The fire broke out in a two-level building home to businesses and apartments at the corner of Mitton and George streets in an area known as Mitton Village. The main section that appeared damaged from the street was Luigi’s Pizza.

Kettles said he couldn’t tell how far the fire made its way through the building, which is also home to a DMA Financial branch.

A second Ontario Fire Marshal investigator was expected to arrive later Tuesday, but Kettles didn’t expect they would be back Wednesday.

“At first glance it doesn’t look overly complicated,” he said. “If something changes we could be here tomorrow, but it’s not looking like it at this point.”

The provincial agency has probed at least four fires in Sarnia-Lambton during the past year. They include fatal fires on London Line in Plympton-Wyoming, on Napier Street in Sarnia, and on Afton Drive in Sarnia. A blaze on Blackwell Road also prompted an investigation after three people were hospitalized.

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Fifteen Sarnia firefighters from three stations were called to the Mitton and George streets blaze Monday night along with Lambton paramedics and Sarnia police, officials said. In a Tuesday statement, Chief Jeff Weber praised his crews.

“I’m very proud of the men and women of Sarnia fire for their hard work rescuing three trapped residents and ensuring no fatalities,” he said. “Fire crews used effective teamwork to simultaneously rescue the occupants and extinguish the fire in the building’s only exit, preventing further property loss.”

Police closed Mitton Street North between Essex and Bright streets for about five hours, according to social media.

The fire broke out less than a week after a $250,000 fire ripped through a home on Christina Street North. Two people and their pet also managed to escape uninjured with the help of Sarnia firefighters.

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