Fatal house fire in London
Friends and family have identified the victim of a fatal fire on Sunday evening as 83-year-old Merle Ellis.
Emergency responders were called to 283 Tremont Rd. near Clarke Road and Trafalgar Street around 8:10 p.m.
Fire crews were alerted that someone may be inside the building and Ellis was pulled from the home shortly after.
Crews immediately focused on trying to resuscitate Ellis but were unsuccessful.
Neighbour Shirley Antonioli lived across the street from Ellis for more than 40 years, with the two families having moved into their homes within a year of each other.
"She was a beautiful lady, great neighbour and very kind," said Antonioli.
She cared for Ellis' cat after it was rescued by fire crews.
London fire crews attended a blaze at 238 Tremont Rd. on Jan. 29 for working fire. (Source: London fire)
Ellis' son Todd arrived on the scene around 10 a.m. to retrieve the cat and to try to get what information was available from officials.
He told CTV News London his mother's health had been failing, including losing her eyesight.
He said she was scheduled to move into a long-term care facility on Wednesday.
Antonioli said prior to Sunday's tragedy, Ellis had numerous people drop by every day to check on her.
"She had her children and her grandchildren. She had friends of hers and I think a sister came to see her all the time as well," Antonioli told CTV News.
Numerous people visited the house on Monday morning, including one of her grandchildren.
A personal service worker arrived not knowing that Ellis passed away.
An Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office (OFM) investigator arrived at the scene around 11 a.m. and is being assisted by members of the London Fire Investigation Unit and London police as they work to determine a cause for the blaze.
"Our mandate is to be dispatched to all fatal fires and all serious injury fires,” said OFM investigator Jessica Reynolds. Reynolds said the investigation is in the early stages but, based on a preliminary assessment, the fire doesn't appear to be criminal in nature.
A fatal house fire on Tremont Road in London is being investigated. Jan. 30, 2023. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)
"At this time, no. But, then again, I'm going to be basing all of my conclusions on evidence and not conjecture,” she said.
She also can’t say at this time if smoke alarms in the house went off, and told CTV News London, “As of right now we have found a couple of smoke alarms in the house. Whether or not they’ve activated is still under investigation right now.”
Reynolds said the on-site investigation may extend into Tuesday. A probable cause may be available at that point, or it may require more time.
London fire officials said this was the first fatal fire in the city since 2021. The fire in 2021 was the only one of that year.
A post-mortem is being conducted under the direction of the Office of the Chief Coroner.
Antoniolo expressed gratitude to first responders who worked to resuscitate Ellis at the scene.
"When the funeral home came to pick her up there were firemen standing there at attention. It was just heartbreaking," she said.
A cause of the fire and an exact cause of death has yet to be determined.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.