2 children, 1 adult dead after apartment building fire in Hamilton

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2 children, 1 adult dead after apartment building fire in Hamilton

Two children and one adult are dead following a multiple-alarm fire at an apartment building at 35 Brock St. in Hamilton Sunday morning.

Crews attended the building, located near Eastwood Park in the city’s North End, at 10:16 a.m. for reports of a structure fire, Hamilton Fire Chief David Cunliffe told reporters on Sunday.

Crews arrived to heavy smoke and flames that were visible from the building, Cunliffe said in news release Sunday.

It was also reported that there were possibly two children still in the apartment.

When firefighters got to the first floor of the building, they were met with “extreme heat, extreme smoke, extreme flame,” Cunliffe said.

Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said two children and one adult died in a fire Sunday morning, Jan. 26, 2025. More than 60 firefighters were called to the scene on Brock Street, between John and Catharine streets north.

Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said two children and one adult died in a fire Sunday morning, Jan. 26, 2025. More than 60 firefighters were called to the scene on Brock Street, between John and Catharine streets north. (Andrew Collins/CBC)

Over 60 firefighters were at the scene once the alarm was upgraded to third grade, according to the release.

“As firefighters raced in to initiate search and rescue operations they were met with heavy smoke in the stairwell, along with numerous people trying to evacuate,” Cunliffe said.

Firefighters made multiple rescues and assisted numerous people out of the stairwell and hallways, but unfortunately two children and one adult died as a result of the fire, Cunliffe said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been impacted,” he said.

Red Cross is assisting tenants who have been displaced by the fire. The Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified due to the fire’s severity and casualties, Cunliffe said.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and it is unclear how extensive the damage was to the building, he said.

13 people taken to hospital

Dave Thompson, superintendent with the Hamilton Paramedic Service, said there were 20 units on scene at the peak of the incident.

Paramedics transported 13 people to hospital — eight in stable condition, four in serious condition, and one person who did not have vital signs, he said.

Out of the 13 patients, the youngest is a one-month-old and the oldest a 77-year-old, Thompson said.

He said paramedics assessed another four people at the scene who refused to be taken to hospital.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said she was “grateful for the bravery of our first responders,” and expressed condolences to those impacted in a social media post Sunday.

“Absolutely devastating news,” she said in a post to X, formerly known as

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:My heart goes out to the victims’ families.”

Coun. Cameron Kroetsch, who represents Ward 2 where the building is located, also shares his condolences in a post to X.

“This is devastating for the community, the families of those who perished in the fire, neighbours, and the fire fighters who engaged in rescue efforts,” he said.

“My office will be available to any who need our help.”

Burlington Street was closed for a few hours on Sunday between Hughson Street and Catherine Street as emergency services personnel responded to the fire. The road has since reopened.

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