5-year-old seriously injured in Hamilton house fire

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Ten children and three adults escaped the Hamilton home fire on Friday night.

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However, one of the children (5 years old) was taken to hospital in critical condition.

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The Hamilton Fire Department said crew members responded to a house fire at 46 Garden Cr.Central Mountain in Hamilton around 6:15 PM

“The first crew to arrive reported heavy smoke coming from the garage area and front porch of the two-story split-level single-family home,” Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said in a statement released Friday. “People who have voluntarily evacuated their homes have advised that they may still have one child in their homes.”

“Firefighters entered the house immediately and began a combination of search and rescue and firefighting operations,” he explained. “As soon as they entered, they were met with heavy smoke and extreme heat conditions.”

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“Additional crew members put a ladder behind the house and entered the main floor through the window to begin search and rescue operations at that level,” Cunliffe said. “This crew entered the house and quickly found the child and was handed over a ladder to firefighters, who lowered the child to the ground.”

Firefighters performed life-saving measures before transferring the child to the emergency services. The child was then taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Other children aged 2 to 17 were treated for smoke inhalation.

A firefighter was also slightly injured.

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Damage to the homes is estimated at $450,000 and $500,000.

The Ontario Fire Department took over the investigation.