Investigation continues following Church Street fire

Questions remain for investigators after a house fire last week on Church Street between Wyandotte and Park Streets West. 

Both police and fire marshals are actively investigating what caused the blaze that left one first floor occupant dead and another critically injured, as well as damages totalling an estimated $225,000.

Following the fire, two people were taken to the hospital in critical condition with one dying at the hospital due to their injuries. Police are now investigating to find out if any criminal element was at play.  

John Lee, public information officer for the Windsor Fire Department, said the cause of the fire has not been determined. 

“As far as a cause, it’s still under investigation. We are not releasing yet due to pending testing on some of the things that went to the lab,” said Lee.  

Other recent home fires include a home on Bridge Avenue and the Salvation Army building at Church Street and University Avenue West. 

Despite so many fires happening over the past month, Lee said there is little connecting them. 

“The only commonality is that they’re residential structure fires, they mostly are happening in older homes, most of them appear to be electrical failures of overloaded electrical,” he said. 

Ontario non-profit Electrical Safety Authority found fires where electricity ignited the source decreased by 13 per cent from 2014 to 2018. Even with this, house fires occur during the winter season more than any other.  

Heating equipment is involved in one out of every six reported home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. 

How the homes on Church Street are built also affected how the home withstood the fire. 

“Because of the age of the building, the construction type is called ‘balloon’ construction,” said Lee.

This type of construction lacks stops, or pieces of wood built into the home’s frame. Without those to slow the spread of a fire, a home is more likely to burn faster. 

As for the home’s history, Church Street resident Roy Baker said police visited frequently.  

“I know police had been there numerous times to take people out of there that didn’t belong,” said Baker.   

In response to inquiries, Windsor Police would not answer specific questions, including what prompted their involvement as their investigation is ongoing.  

Despite the damages, Baker also said the Church Street community is staying strong. 

“We have a great bunch of people, and we all look after each other,” he said.

Windsor Police released an update this past Tuesday requesting anyone with surveillance cameras in the areas of Pelissier Street to Janette Avenue and Riverside Drive West to Elliott Street West check their footage from 8:00 p.m. the date of the fire to 9:00 a.m. the following day for suspicious persons or activity.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Windsor Police at 519-255-6700 ext. 4080 or Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477.