1 person unaccounted for after fast‑moving house fire in Oshawa; 3 to hospital
Posted January 20, 2026 8:58 am.
Last Updated January 20, 2026 2:16 pm.
A fast‑moving overnight house fire in Oshawa has left three adults injured and one person unaccounted for, as firefighters continue to battle hotspots and search the heavily damaged home.
Emergency crews were called to the area of Bloor Street East and Simcoe Street South at 3:47 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a structure on fire.
Oshawa Fire Platoon Chief Jim Lee says crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames, with the fire appearing to have started in the basement before spreading rapidly through the first and second floors and eventually blowing through the roof.
Durham Regional Police say three adult males from the home were transported to the hospital with minor injuries related to smoke inhalation and are in stable condition. According to fire officials, all three were already outside the home when firefighters arrived. Three other residents escaped unharmed.
However, one adult male from the residence remains unaccounted for. In an update on Tuesday afternoon, Const. Nicholas Gluckstein said investigators have identified him and are working to locate him, but did not release his name.
Crews are still working to determine whether he escaped before the fire intensified or remains inside the structure. Search efforts have been complicated by the extent of the damage and what officials describe as “hoarding conditions” inside the home.
Lee confirmed no firefighters were injured.
Police said there were multiple units in the home. It is not yet known whether the home had working smoke alarms, and investigators have not determined the cause of the fire.
Durham police say it is too early to confirm whether the blaze is considered suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing and both criminal investigators and the Fire Marshall are on standby if it seems to be deliberate.
Bloor Street East remains closed in both directions between Albert Street and the Highway 401 ramp. The ramp is still accessible, but police are urging drivers to avoid the area.
