Strathroy-Caradoc police have confirmed that a body has been found after a house fire west of Strathroy late Sunday evening.
On Monday fire crews and police were searching for a 10-year-old boy who was still "unaccounted for" following the blaze.
Police, fire and EMS responded to a 911 call for a house fire at 25198 Melbourne Road around 10 p.m. Sunday.
EMS transported four members of the family to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Strathroy-Caradoc police Const. Mark Thuss says, "Two young people and two adults were transported to hospital with smoke inhalation and some minor injuries. They were treated and released."
Police had said emergency crews were unable to locate a fifth member of the family, a 10-year-old boy.
"It was reported that one of the children was inside. The firefighters attempted to make entry at that time. We were unable to find the occupant that was still in the house. We were forced to retreat because of the heat inside the fire," says Chief Brian George with the Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Department.
Police are not releasing any names at this time, but the home belongs to Cindy and Steven Derbyshire who are both teachers with the Catholic school board. They have three sons. Quinn, their second son, remains missing.
All three stations from the Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Department, with assistance from Kerwood Fire, attended to battle the blaze that lasted throughout the night, destroying the residence.
Access to water hampered the fight, with tankers having to be brought in to truck water to the scene.
George says, "It's a pretty difficult situation in a community like this. Our volunteer firefighters, they know a lot of the different members of the community. They're friends and family, and when you have a tragedy, something like this, it especially hits the volunteer firefighters very hard."
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office and the Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service.
Damage is estimated at $350,000.
