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2012-09-10 at 21:16

Fire claims life

By Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com
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Investigators have confirmed that one person who was rushed to the hospital Monday night after a fire destroyed a Limbrick Street townhouse has died.

At least three people were inside the structure when firefighters arrived at about 8 p.m. to find the residence engulfed in flames and thick smoke pouring from the building. Firefighters and paramedics performed CPR on the injured man for several minutes, before whisking him away on a stretcher to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

On Tuesday morning, Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue deputy chief Greg Hankkio confirmed that one person had died as a result of the fire. No other details are immediately available.

On Monday night, fire Chief John Hay said his crews arrived within minutes, but the unit was already consumed in flames.
"They made a quick attack on the fire and they actually found some victims there. There were three people injured. I believe one came out of the window. Another was trying to help someone who was in the building and the firefighters, I believe, pulled one out of the building," Hay said.

James Hubbard, a nearby resident, said he was coming home from the store when he spotted the fire.
He said his first thought was to try to help out whoever was inside.

"I saw the police coming to the back and I ran around front. I saw this lady banging on the window trying to get out," Hubbard said. "I saw this ... guy in a yellow shirt and he was saying, 'Help me out, help me out.' Everyone just stands there and no one helped him. So I helped him out with another guy in glasses to get up to the window.

"He hops up to the window and punches the window out and drags that woman out. Me and the guy, we catch her down and I threw him up my shirt to go around his face. He climbed in the window after and checked the bed to see if there was someone else in there, which we heard there was."

But the flames and smoke proved to be too much for the rescuer.

"He couldn't find them quickly and he came back out because he would have probably died from smoke inhalation. We helped him down and that's pretty much it," Hubbard said.

Hay said it's far too early to determine what happened.

"That's going to be premature for us tonight, especially with it getting dark. We're going to do a lot of work to ensure the fire doesn't extend into the other units in the row house and then we'll preserve so evidence for tomorrow and we'll get our investigators in and probably the (Ontario Fire Marshal's Office) and the police."

Hay did say it appears some recent upgrades to the firewalls between the row houses did their job, preventing the blaze from spreading to adjacent residences.

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Comments

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blue_eyes says:
This is one of the hardest things to see. The scene was unreal, and really hits home. There is so much shock in the neighbourhood. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved in the fire.
9/10/2012 9:32:46 PM
AWalkingCalamity says:
I am confident the people and local organizations will ensure the families are taken care of during these terrible times; because, isn't that what our city does best? My heart goes out to those invovled. Many thanks to all who respond to aid folks during these events in our community.
9/10/2012 10:18:13 PM
YQT says:
Hubbard, the "guy" in the yellow shirt, and the "other guy" with glasses deserve of pat on the back. Great job "guys".

Hope everyone recovers swiftly.
9/10/2012 11:03:20 PM
JIMMY2 says:
My hearts go out to all involved, thank you to those that stepped in to brave the heat and smoke to rescue others, it must have been a terrible sight,
9/11/2012 8:12:55 AM
trent says:
James Hubbard, "yellow shirt guy", and "guy in glasses" are heroes.
9/11/2012 9:58:53 AM
westfortscum says:
The definition of hero described above.
9/11/2012 12:40:41 PM
DougMyers says:
A few local heros there!

Hopefully they can be recognized publically for risking their own lives to save another!

9/11/2012 12:59:15 PM
spooner19 says:
To those citizens that went and helped you are truley great people, this is very tragic and your actions probably saved other lives, truley heroes.
9/11/2012 6:47:00 PM
City_girl says:
stellermeller- did your friends call 911? Fire can't respond if they don't about it... Might have heard a little birdy say that no one called it in.
9/11/2012 7:25:18 PM
buzzerd says:
Just because there is a firehall down the street doesn't mean there is a truck there. They could have been on another call.
9/11/2012 7:42:56 PM
tired says:
Stellermeller...You should not be so quick to judge the actions of the fire department. What do you know of responding to emergency situations, run in blind...hope for the best? Firefighters are also responsible for their own lives. If they get hurt who is able to get the job done then. They are trained to figure out the best way to approach a situation in a safe fashion so that they can do their jobs properly and everyone gets out alive. Perhaps you should defer to the experts. BTW to insinuate that their approach was lacking because of the area being responded to is nothing more than inflamatory and contributes nothing to this blog. Bravo to the TBFD for their efforts!
9/11/2012 8:16:03 PM
voice1977 says:
It is always hard when accidents, incidents, and trauma hit people. Really makes you think, and lets you know that life is precious, and things happen. But, we can say its this reason, its that reason. The truth is, it has happened. I do feel so deeply for the families that have been affected by this. No matter who did what or who didnt do anything, in the end those people are the ones who live with that for as long as they hang on to it. Changes can be made, and the point is. People passed on, and families are hurting. Why dont we find it in our hearts to see where we can put that love, that care and that duty serve. There is no need to point the finger. That is not going to change things.
9/11/2012 8:31:12 PM
faster says:
My congrats to the folks who helped in this situation and to those families who are related to those involved. At the same time I have to ask where was the fire protection and smoke alarms in this house to warn those in there? It was 8PM, I am sure not all the residence were alseep at that time.
Give your heads a shake folks before ponting fingers at our EMS folks who daily put their lives on the line for us...

9/11/2012 10:58:28 PM
young&concerned says:
"stellermeller" you have some nerve!
9/11/2012 11:24:41 PM
u serious says:
@stellermeller:

Wow, youve got some nerve thinking that, let alone saying that the TBFD slacks off when it comes to "low income housing".

Youve opened a can of worms that shouldnt have been touched.

9/12/2012 12:03:18 AM
grs says:
What's next stellermeller, are you going to say that they lacked fire insurance and because the fire department acted slowly, the city should pay for the damages?

I'm not a firefighter but I don't believe it works the same as you saw in the movie Backdraft. I don't think they show up and one guy goes charging in immediately, armed only with an ax. Anyone with any sort of first aid training knows the first thing to look for is further danger that could harm the rescuer.
9/12/2012 8:39:10 AM
thatsright says:
wow, people are quick to jump all over stellermeller for voicing an opinion that he/she is entitled to. where's this kind of defence for the fire department (or any city department) for that matter when it comes to issues like their budget or are they not considered heroic then?
9/12/2012 9:25:43 AM
passlake says:
why was stellermeller's comment removed?

nothing offensive about the comment, it was merely an opinion.. just as so many other people share theirs, they have the right to share too.

is there another news organization in town that won't censor comments as much?
9/12/2012 11:57:34 AM
JIMMY2 says:
Why does it seem like its always those less fortunate who are hit the hardest, I saw the news cast, and I am so thankful for those who stepped up and helped those in need, its going to be a long recovery for those who lost everything, but i also know how big the hearts in thunder bay are, and we will pull together to help these individuals out, To the one passed and thier family, such a tragedy, i hope you find the courage to make it through and have wonderful memories of your loved one.
9/12/2012 12:24:53 PM
stuck? says:
now I'm left wondering a few things...

1) what was the cause of the fire? (i know it's only a day later, just wondering, no hurries, investigate by all means!)

and

2) what the hell did stellermeller say for everybody to jump on them? (his/her comment has since been removed)

Thoughts are with the victims of the fire and a big good job to those that were involved in the rescue effort to save their fellow men and women!
9/12/2012 12:29:21 PM
sleepinggiant says:
Obviously we don't know what caused the fire yet, or at least it hasn't been released to them media.

As for Stellermeller's comments, they were completely out of line.
He/she basically accused the FD of being slow and not caring because it was a fire in Limbrick area. He/she was implying that the FD cares more and tries harder at fires in other areas of the city and neglects the Limbrick area.

He/she also went on to claim that he/she watched the firefighters walk non-chalantly up to the burning building.

As someone who was out for a walk and witnessed the whole thing, I can say that the fire truck came around the corner on James about as fast as a truck like that can make that corner. I then witnessed the firefighters jump off the truck on Limbrick, and run with their gear and tanks on up to house while pulling the hose from the truck. The truck was a great distance from the actual house that was on fire.

Comments like this aren't opinion, but mere slander.
9/12/2012 12:54:50 PM
Sui Generis says:
I read the original comment, and that is NOT what it said. That is what you, and others, assumed it MEANT.

The original comment said that those in the neighbourhood of the fire reported that the fire fighters took an unnecessary amount of time to reach the house, considering the proximity to the nearest fire station, and that witnesses were reporting fire fighters slowly walking up to the residence instead of running like we imagine they ought to do.

The original poster NEVER said that it was fact, or that they witnessed any of this. Just that this is what witnesses are repeating.

And for some reason, that was enough to get the entire forum jumping all over him with baseless assumptions. The rule around here is that you can voice your opinion ONLY if it's the same one the majority agrees with. Otherwise, your opinion is a target.
9/12/2012 2:16:45 PM
stellermeller says:
i am sorry for making ppl angry ...what i am trying to do is find out why it takes emergency professinals longer in certain neighbourhoods and it is not slander it is truth ! i find it unfair and have seen it not only this time but many times b4 not only with the fd but with the police dept. and ambulance ... fact is truth hurts and instead of all of you getting soo angry why not find out some facts for us low income communities ? we deserve that we are human too ! and i also seen how they walked up to the fire didnt seem as concerned as they shudve been in my opinion ...and yes that is my OPINION! we live in canada and i am entitled to it thanks
9/12/2012 2:21:30 PM
digdug76 says:
In a situation such as that, seconds seem like minutes, and minutes seem like hours.

I spoke to someone in the know at dispatch and the first truck arrived at the fire less than 3 minutes after the fire department received the alarm. The times show the time that the alarm was sent out, and the time the fire firetruck arrived at Limbrick.

You are absolutely ignorant to state that EMS, Police and Fire take their time when going to an incident at Limbrick as opposed to other areas.

You honestly believe that when the fire department hears it's a fire with people trapped inside that they actually don't drive as fast to it or take their time getting ready because it's Limbrick?

That is pure ignorance at it's finest. Whether it's shots fired, a house fire, a heart attack victim, our police and ems treat every address the same. I can't believe I'm actually reading this. Just pathetic.
9/12/2012 3:19:55 PM
She says:
You should give it a rest. No one is out to get you or low income communities.
9/12/2012 3:25:15 PM
The Wolf says:
Unless you have access to dated time lines of all emergency calls and a dated time stamp of when the emergency crews arrived. What you are doing is slandering, 100% as you are basing what you think is happening, how it happened and why with little to no factual evidence except rumors and guesses.

The worst part of your post yesterday, it was made on Sept 11th, the day thousands of firemen raced and rushed to their deaths doing their jobs.
9/12/2012 3:42:29 PM
westfortscum says:
There is no statistical proof of your accusations. These are just urban legends. Let the heroes of this world do their jobs. And in my opinion, if you have nothing nice to say, then don't say it at all.
9/13/2012 10:21:53 AM
or$en says:
Sui Generis is correct
i saw the comment.
the only thing i took acception to is that they seemed to complain that the fire men walked up to the door, in their opinion too slowly.
you have to realize that you cant just rush into a fire and start banging down doors.... it can cause people to get hurt, including the firemen who are there to help.
they have to assess the situation ... just pounding a door open can cause an explosion
9/12/2012 9:12:51 PM
jethro says:
I wonder if the people thinkn it took long(realizing mins seem like hrs) called 911 right away or assumed it was done and rushed to help? They r heros but a fire should not have evolved this fast in daylight hrs with wking detectors. Fire arrived in 3 mins and I would rather a fireman not run into my house without first lookn at the structure; e.g windows, door placements and smoke and fire conditions. Its so diff and normal too blame when such sgnificant loss arises. My heart goes out to all involved. ps What it must b like to fight these fires and see people pass on a daily basis at work and wonder what if.
9/14/2012 2:20:09 PM
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