Fatal house fire in Timmins overnight

Timmins Police say a Timmins couple died in an overnight fire at a Mountjoy Street South residence.

Deputy Fire Chief Scott Atkinson told CTV News the call came in about 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning but it is believed the fire had been burning for some time.

Upon arrive firefighters found the home completely engulfed in flames.

Atkinson described the fire as ‘stubborn.’

He said due to the cold weather and nature of the fire more than 35 firefighters from the area’s various stations helped to combat the fire to allow personnel to switch out of the cold.

“We had a lot of trouble. A very stubborn fire as far as getting to the tough points which made it very difficult for crews with freezing and manpower obviously," said Atkinson.

The scene remains under control of the Timmins Police Service and the Timmins Fire Department, said police.

"In any instance where there’s loss of life until such time that it’s been determined that absolutely no foul play is involved we take a more serious role and a guarded one at that,” said Marc Depatie with the Timmins Police Service.

“We treat all deaths as suspicious in nature until evidence proved otherwise.”

The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate due to the loss of life, with an investigator is en route from Ottawa, Ont.

Identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

“I feel just terrible for (the family) as well as the crews that had to go in and put the fire out for them. There was a lot of rotating around and the crews that were here on scene did a fantastic job to contain that building,” Atkinson added.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

More details to follow as they become available.

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