‘Absolutely tragic:’ Parents, 3 children killed in Brampton house fire

Five members of a family are dead following an early morning house fire in Brampton on Monday.

Emergency crews responded to numerous calls around 2 a.m. for a fire at a residence on Conestoga Drive, in the area of Kennedy Road and Sandalwood Parkway.

Two adults and a child were pulled from the home and pronounced dead at the scene. Two other children were transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and pronounced dead shortly after.

Police say the victims are a father, mother and their three children.

The victims have been identified as Nazir Ali, 28, Raven Alisha Ali-O’dea, 29, Alia Marylin Ali-O’dea, 10, Jayden Prince Ali-O’dea, 8, and seven-year-old Layla Rose Ali-O’dea by a family friend.

CityNews has confirmed that the children were Peel District School Board students. Grief counsellors will be available.

Nazir Ali, 28, Raven Alisha Ali-O’dea, 29, Alia Marylin Ali-O’dea, 10, Jayden Prince Ali-O’dea, 8, and seven-year-old Layla Rose Ali-O’dea were killed in fire in Brampton. Photo: TWITTER/Randy Narine

Another adult from the house has been taken to hospital with serious injuries and remains in critical condition. Police say two other adults were able to escape the home from the basement without injury.

Brampton Fire Chief Bill Boyes says firefighters were met with heavy smoke and flames upon arrival and crews managed “heroic and tremendous work under extremely difficult circumstances.”

“Our hearts are absolutely breaking at what happened here today,” said Boyes. “To lose three children and two adults, with one additional person in life-threatening condition, it’s absolutely tragic.”

Police and the fire department are working with the Office of the Fire Marshal to determine the cause of the blaze. Boyes says whether or not working smoke alarms were present in the home will be a focus of the investigation.

Conestoga Drive remains closed between Sandalwood Parkway and Cranmore Court.

Politicians react after Brampton house fire kills five

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Brampton on Monday morning, alongside Premier Doug Ford, to make an announcement on child-care. Trudeau offered his condolences to the community at the beginning of the news conference.

‘We’re all thinking of those affected,” said Trudeau. “Our thoughts are with friends, family, loved ones as always.”

Ford also commented on the tragedy before speaking on the new deal.

“I want to express just how sad I was to learn of the tragic deaths here in Peel,” said Ford. “I can’t imagine the hurt being felt by the family and friends, you’ll be all in our prayers.”

Brampton mayor Patrick Brown and Mississauga mayor Bonne Crombie also weighed in on Monday morning.

“My prayers and condolences are with the family & friends who have been impacted by this devastating fire,” said Brown in a tweet. “Also grateful for the tireless efforts of our first responders
who faced very difficult conditions.”

Crombie echoed Brown’s response in a tweet of her own.

“Heartbroken this morning to learn about the fire in Brampton. My thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims, first responders and the entire Brampton community.”