By Mike Anderson
The Ontario Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of a tragic house fire in Sutton that claimed the life of a 63-year-old woman Friday afternoon.
York Regional Police said the fire broke out at 26164 Hwy 48, just east of High Street, shortly after 3 p.m.
When Georgina Fire arrived on the scene, the front of the single-story bungalow was fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters, unable to enter the structure until the fire was suppressed, found one person deceased inside.
The deceased has not been officially identified, but a neighbour told the Post it was the homeowner, Laurel Worth, 63, who was fostering two children, a boy, 8, and a girl, 17.
According to the neighbour, the boy managed to escape with one of Worth’s dogs, Molly, a Boxer, before the fire engulfed the home.
However, Worth could not get out with her other dog, Jules, a Poddle cross.
According to the neighbour, the girl was at school when the fire started but arrived later on a school bus to witness her home in flames.
Jordan Froese, an investigator with the Office of the Fire Marshall, could not confirm why Worth was unable to escape the house, which had a rear door, nor could he confirm if she succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Froese said autopsy results and his final report might not be released for months.
Froese warned homeowners to check that their smoke alarms were working and practice an escape plan.
“Furniture nowadays is made with polyurethane foams, which is like solidified gasoline, instead of the old furniture made out of cotton and wood,” he said.
“So fire releases much more energy in the room, which gives you less time to get out of the structure. And, the type of gas released from polyurethane foams is very toxic.”
A collection has started to help with funeral costs; residents can donate at the Anchor Family Restaurant, 26092 Hwy 48. There is also a gofundme page, where you can make an online donation.
Anyone with information should contact YRP at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7341 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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