Boys killed in Brampton, Ont., fire identified as tight-knit brothers

Three brothers killed in a home fireplace in Brampton, Ont., this week had been remembered Friday as tight-knit and “delightfully rambunctious.”

The boys had been recognized in an announcement shared by police on behalf of the household as 15-year-old Coen Bagan-Overholt and his brothers, Riley, 12, and Alex, 9. They’re survived by their mom, Heather Bagan, and two different siblings.

“Heather’s boys had been a delightfully rambunctious bunch, however they had been additionally a tribe of their very own. Brothers and younger boys that may most positively be described as extremely form, at all times caring, affectionate, and greater than something, deeply beloved,” the assertion reads.

The fireplace broke out Thursday morning whereas Bagan was taking her youngest youngster to daycare, the assertion mentioned, and got here residence to seek out her residence had been “gutted.”

“First responders made valiant efforts to rescue them, and we thank them for his or her bravery and makes an attempt,” it reads.

The assertion describes Coen as “witty” and ever-smiling, Riley as quietly “spunky” and “observant”, and Alex as “foolish” and “happy-go-lucky.”

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown mentioned the neighborhood is devastated by the fireplace.

“You go residence and also you simply wish to maintain your kids tighter as a result of it’s simply harrowing,” he mentioned.

Brown, who mentioned he was briefed on the incident twice on Thursday, mentioned one of many brothers referred to as 911 to report the blaze, however firefighters couldn’t get there in time.

He mentioned the boy instructed the emergency dispatcher that he was caught in the home, and “pleaded for assist.”

“They received to the home six minutes after ... the 911 name was dialed, however they weren’t in a position to save the youngsters,” he mentioned. “We had one firefighter that truly injured himself, put his personal life in danger, making an attempt to get into the home to attempt to rescue the youngsters.”

The boys died after being taken to hospital, whereas the firefighter who was injured was handled on the scene by paramedics.

The native fireplace division and Workplace of the Hearth Marshal proceed to analyze the reason for the blaze.

It's one among 5 deadly fires throughout Ontario which have collectively claimed 15 lives to this point this month.

The Workplace of the Hearth Marshal, which is tasked with investigating such fires within the province, mentioned the numbers of each deadly fires and deaths have dipped in comparison with January of final 12 months, however there are considerably extra deaths than in January 2020.

Deputy Hearth Marshal Tim Beckett mentioned that in January 2020, there have been 10 deadly fires that left a complete of 11 individuals lifeless, whereas in January 2021, 15 fires left 22 individuals lifeless.

“November, December and January are usually colder months, and are most frequently once we see our deadly fires occurring,” he mentioned. “(There’s) a whole lot of concern round fireplace security in these months.”

Beckett mentioned fires are extra frequent within the winter as a result of individuals are extra seemingly to make use of area heaters or smoke indoors.

He mentioned the variety of fires which have left a couple of particular person lifeless this 12 months is “trending up.”

Beckett mentioned it’s too quickly to touch upon the specifics of any of the fires which have occurred in January, past what officers have already mentioned publicly.

Along with the Brampton fireplace, the OFM is investigating a blaze that left two individuals lifeless in Toronto on Wednesday evening, one which left three kids lifeless on Sandy Lake First Nation final week, and an explosion in Ottawa that killed six.

Whereas the reason for this month’s fires have but to be decided, Beckett mentioned there are some greatest practices individuals ought to comply with on the subject of fireplace security.

He mentioned individuals ought to get new smoke alarms each 10 years, examine smoke alarm batteries yearly, and take a look at the detectors month-to-month.

They need to additionally you should definitely flip off area heaters after they go away a room, and double examine that any heaters they've are licensed by the CSA Group.

Heavy snow in southern Ontario may additionally block vents, which may result in a buildup of carbon monoxide, he mentioned, so residents ought to examine on that as nicely.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 21, 2022.