Apartment fire in Stratford leaves one dead

A fire truck sits outside the scene of an apartment fire in Stratford, Ont., on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013.

One person has died following a fire in a five-storey Stratford apartment building.

Stratford Fire officials say they were notified of the fire, on Campbell Court in the city’s north end, shortly before 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke in the fifth-floor hallway, located the apartment where the fire began and extinguished it.

“Tragically, after the extinguishment of the fire, they located one deceased person,” says Michael Gornyiczki, Stratford’s deputy fire chief.

No details on the identity of the victim were immediately available, but it is believed the victim was the lone occupant of that apartment.

Other fifth-floor residents were taken by bus to a seniors’ centre while damage to their apartments was assessed.

“We’re not sure at what point they’ll be returning,” says Gornyiczki.

Officials say the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

The Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating along with Stratford Police.