The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) is investigating the fatal residential fire in Barrie. In what would be the total destruction of a family’s home, the fire on Livia Herman Way in Barrie’s north end started around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. A family of five were home at the time of the fire. Three made it out safely, while one man rushed back into the home to save a senior in the basement. The rescuer was seriously injured in the fire, and the senior tragically died in the home. As the family member recovers in the intensive care unit, the OFM has been called in to investigate the cause of the fire. “The investigation remains in its very preliminary stages. At this time, a structural engineer has assessed the residence and determined that it is unsafe for investigators to enter due to concerns regarding the structural integrity of the building,” said Jim Demetriou with the Office of the Fire Marshal in a statement. Heavy machinery is being brought to the site to remove the debris and portions of the damaged structure, he said. “This will allow our investigators to safely access the interior of the residence and proceed with their examination to determine the origin and cause of the fire,” Demetriou said.
