A devastating house fire in Brampton has claimed the lives of five family members, including an unborn baby, leaving a community in shock and a surviving relative struggling to cope with unimaginable loss.
Peel Regional Police confirmed Sunday that 12 people were living inside the residence near McLaughlin and Remembrance roads — a multigenerational Indian Punjabi family of ten, along with two basement tenants who escaped unharmed. Police clarified that Jugraj Singh, who lived at the home, was away at the time of the Nov. 20 blaze.
Emergency crews arriving around 3 a.m. Thursday found two people deceased — one inside the home and another just outside. Four occupants, including a five-year-old boy, survived by jumping from a second-floor window. Police say three survivors are now in serious condition, while one remains in life-threatening condition.
On Friday, crews searching the wreckage discovered the remains of a third adult victim. The search for two additional missing occupants — including a toddler — was paused temporarily for the coroner’s work, then resumed Sunday.
‘Beloved Indian Punjabi family’ torn apart
In a heartbreaking online plea, Jugraj Singh said he is the only physically safe member of his family after the fire took the lives of his mother-in-law, sister-in-law, her two-year-old daughter, his wife’s cousin, and his unborn child.
His wife and their five-year-old son are among the survivors undergoing critical care in the ICU with severe burn injuries.
Singh said the blaze destroyed everything the family owned, including identification documents, clothing, passports, and insurance papers. He is now raising funds to repatriate his loved ones’ bodies to India and support the survivors’ long recovery.
“As the only family member able to manage arrangements,” he wrote, “I am trying to cope with both the emotional devastation and the overwhelming financial burden.”
Neighbours grief-stricken
Residents in the neighbourhood said they are devastated.
“It’s just terrible… nothing makes sense here,” said neighbour Roy Hawlow, who has returned to the scene several times. “I feel sorry for the family. I wish I could help them even when there’s nothing we can do.”
Concerns about property oversight
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the home was owned by an absentee landlord who had applied in 2019 to create a basement unit but never arranged required inspections after finishing the work.
Officials have not confirmed whether the condition of the home or any unapproved construction played a role in the deadly fire.
Investigation ongoing
Peel Regional Police, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, and the Office of the Fire Marshal will provide a formal update on Monday at noon. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.