One dead in Tottenham apartment building fire, OFM investigating

OPP and OFM are investigating after a person died in a Tottenham apartment complex.

One person has died as a result of an apartment fire in Tottenham over the weekend.

Nottawasaga police responded to a residential fire on Queen Street North around 4:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Provincial officers and members of the New Tecumseth Fire Department found one person inside of the residence; they were taken to the local hospital for treatment but were later pronounced dead. The identity of the victim has not yet been confirmed by officials.

The other residents were evacuated and taken to the local church, before going to the Tottenham Community Fitness Centre.

The Fire Chief of New Tecumseth Dan Heydon said they were relocated through a partnership with the Central County Emergency Management Program and the Emergency Social Services.

According to the fire department, 23 units are in the apartment complex with 25 individuals displaced from the fire. The County of Simcoe are supporting seven people who were not able to stay with friends and family.

Heydon said the initial attack was from the outside front of the building, through the front lobby and down to the basement level.

“So, it was a fairly quick interior attack,” Heydon said. “Heavy smoke conditions. And, we did ventilate the building, obviously, after we contained the source of the fire removed from the front.

CTV News spoke with a representative of the property but they declined to comment at this time.

Police say there are no concerns for public safety at this time, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Office of the Fire Marshal is conducting the probe alongside the Nottawasaga OPP Crime Unit.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact officers at 1‑888‑310‑1122.