Update 3:15 p.m.:
Leonard Cote, an 89 year old male from the residence, was transported to the North Bay Regional Health Centre. He was pronounced deceased a short time after.
The fire is being investigated by the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office with the assistance of the North Bay Fire Emergency Service and the North Bay Police Service.
No foul play is suspected at this time.
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Original story:
Fire officials say an improperly mounted smoke alarm may have led to the death of an 89 year old man last night in a house fire on Front Street.
See: Elderly man dies in Front St. house fire
Fire crews arrived at 594 Front St. around 9:20 last night and immediately conducted a search of the structure for possible victims.
An 89 year old man was found and quickly removed from the danger posed by the fire. Paramedics were on scene and worked with firefighters to immediately begin life-saving efforts. He was immediately transported to the hospital where he died of his injuries.
"The home was built as a single family home which was converted to a duplex," said Greg Saunders, Deputy Fire Chief. "There was a working smoke alarm in the apartment unit but the smoke alarm was improperly mounted. The improper mounting of the smoke alarm significantly decreased the effectiveness of the unit in alerting the tenant to the danger posed by the fire."
The investigation into the fire continues today. An investigator from the Fire Marshal is working in conjunction with personnel from the North Bay Police Service and an investigator from the North Bay Fire and Emergency services to determine the cause of the fire.
The home has received approximately $250,000 in damage.
When mounting a smoke alarm please consider the following guidelines:
- Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
- For best performance, an alarm should be mounted on the ceiling in or near the centre of the room, hall or stairway, and at the head of each stairway leading to an occupied area.
- Optimum location for wall mounts is at least 15 cm (6 inches) from the ceiling but not more than 30 cm (19 inches) from it.
- Avoid installing where the temperature is less than 5oC (41oF) or exceeds 48oC (119oF).
- Keep alarms away from doors and windows.
- Never locate an alarm in front of an air register, fans or vents.
- Keep alarms at least 60 cm (2 feet) from any corner.
- Do not recess smoke alarms in walls or ceilings!
- Smoke alarms in rooms with ceiling slopes greater than 30 cm (one foot) rise per 2.4 m (eight feet) horizontally should be located on the high side of the room.
- Avoid locating an alarm at the peak of an “A” frame type ceiling.
- Never paint a smoke alarm.
- Keep alarms 60 to 90 cm (two to three feet) away from light fixtures.
