A weekend blaze in a townhouse in northwest Toronto that had no smoke detector claimed the lives of a mother and two of her five children. And investigators on the scene discovered to their dismay that eight other units in the housing complex in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood also had no working detectors.
The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating what caused the fire, which began early Saturday morning and reduced the two-storey townhouse to rubble. Jim Fisher, supervisor of investigations, told reporters yesterday that the deaths could have been avoided had the smoke alarm been working.
Unfortunately his staff see all too many tragedies during the Christmas season.
"It's discouraging," he said. "What's the common denominator? The smoke alarm isn't working."
Toronto Community Housing Corp., which owns the complex and is responsible for ensuring that there are working smoke alarms on every level of a townhouse, had inspected the units last February. It is a tenant's responsibility to notify the landlord if a smoke alarm is not working.
"The landlord can't be in your house every day making sure you haven't disconnected the smoke alarm," Mr. Fisher said.
Just before 2 a.m. Saturday, Marvalo Smith, a tenant in the complex, said she was awakened by someone banging on her front door. She ran down the stairs to find her friend's daughter, Iesha Simpson, screaming and sobbing.
Mary Hermiz, another neighbour and friend, heard the commotion and rushed outside, where she found Iesha barefoot. "Help me, please. Call 9-1-1," Iesha yelled to her. "My mom is downstairs sleeping, the children are upstairs."
Moments later, Ms. Smith's son, Dale, darted the short distance across the driveway into the smoke-filled townhouse where he found Iesha's five-year-old brother, Travari, slumped over at the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor. He scooped Travari up, ran outside and handed him to his sister, Shantel. Iesha also ran back into the burning house and rescued her 12-year-old brother, Trevon.
But the entire townhouse was soon engulfed in flames and smoke, making it impossible for them to go back in for Iesha's mother, Diane Anderson, who was asleep in the living room. Ms. Anderson perished in the fire along with two of her other children, Jah-Jah, a boy, aged 4, and Tayjah, a girl, aged 9.
The wiring for the smoke detector was in the same room where Ms. Anderson was sleeping, but Mr. Fisher said the alarm had been removed.
The detectors in all 90 units on Grandravine Drive were replaced yesterday.
Ms. Anderson's three surviving children spent the night in hospital, where they were treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation. They were released yesterday into the care of relatives.
This is the second time the family has been touched by tragedy. Jah-Jah's father, Leroy Whittaker, was shot to death two years ago. The murder remains unsolved, but his stepson, Trevon, was there when he was gunned down.
Mr. Whittaker's sister, Sharon Whittaker, was among the congregation yesterday at the Revivaltime Tabernacle in northwest Toronto, where Pastor Audley James paid tribute to the family.
Ms. Whittaker, who was in tears and leaning on her daughter for comfort, told reporters following the service that Iesha is still in shock. She said her little nephew, Jah-Jah, loved to ride his bike. "I can say right now that even though he is not here, he is in the arms of Jesus, and nothing and no one can pluck him out," she said.
Toronto police Detective Rick Ramjattan said a post-mortem will be conducted today, but he said he does not suspect foul play.
Ms. Smith said she and Ms. Anderson often turned to each other when they needed help. When Ms. Anderson's stove broke down last Thanksgiving, Ms. Smith cooked her family's turkey in her oven. And when Ms. Smith recently came down with a migraine, her friend prepared a balm to help relieve the pain.
