Man dies after being pulled from burning Cornwall multiplex

CNW Exclusive

Cornwall firefighters pour water on this multiplex fire on April 3, 2015. The fire appeared to start in an upstairs apartment. (Cornwall Newswatch/Bill Kingston)

CORNWALL – A man has died after being pulled from a burning multiplex overnight in Cornwall.

The fire in the two storey building at 22 Sixth Street West, which has four or possibly five apartments, appeared to start in the upper portion of a covered stairwell – the only access to an upstairs apartment.

There were 19 firefighters and up to five fire trucks on the scene shortly after 2:30 a.m.

Three of those firefighters had to be treated for minor injuries from battling the fire.

Shortly after the blaze was under control, a group of firefighters pulled the lifeless body of a man from the back of the building.

Firefighters carry a badly-burned man from the back of the multi-unit apartment building on Sixth Street West on April 3, 2015. (Cornwall Newswatch/Bill Kingston)
Firefighters carry a badly-burned man from the back of the multi-unit apartment building on Sixth Street West on April 3, 2015. (Cornwall Newswatch/Bill Kingston)

A paramedic and a firefighter frantically performed chest compressions on the badly-burned victim before loading them in an ambulance.

He later died in hospital. His identity has not been released.

A Cornwall firefighter performs chest compressions on a fire victim while a paramedic performs his duties while waiting for an ambulance to get into position to load the patient after a multiplex fire on Sixth Street West on April 3,2015. (Cornwall Newswatch/Bill Kingston)
A Cornwall firefighter performs chest compressions on a fire victim while a paramedic performs his duties while waiting for an ambulance to get into position to load the patient after a multiplex fire on Sixth Street West on April 3,2015. (Cornwall Newswatch/Bill Kingston)

Other tenants of the building – some with family pets – stood nearly as they were being aided by the Canadian Red Cross.

Neighbours tell Cornwall Newswatch there was another fire a couple of years ago in the opposite end of the building, possibly caused by a candle.

A section of Sixth Street West from Burton Avenue to Pitt Street was to remain closed this morning as police and the city’s emergency command center held the scene.

The Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating.

Click on the picture thumbnails below to see more photos from the scene.

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