A fundraiser has been set up for the survivors of a deadly house fire in Oshawa that claimed the lives of a 46-year-old mother and her nine-year-old daughter.
A GoFundMe page is accepting donations on behalf of the Bresca family after the Wednesday morning blaze at their McGrigor St. home also left the surviving 56-year-old father and his 12-year-old daughter in hospital with critical injuries and “fighting for their lives.”
The family’s dog also died in the blaze.
A friend who set up the online campaign said the family suffered an “unimaginable tragedy.”
“This tragic event has left them overwhelmed, both emotionally and financially,” Madelin Turner wrote in the appeal. “The loss of their home, personal belongings, and the ongoing medical expenses for those in critical condition are more than they could ever have prepared for. As they navigate this incredibly difficult time, we are reaching out for support from our friends, family, and community.”
Turner said the money raised will help cover funeral costs for the mother and younger daughter, cover medical expenses for the surviving father and daughter beyond OHIP coverage, rebuild their lives after losing their home, and assist with day-to-day living expenses once they are back on their feet.
“Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a world of difference,” Turner continued. “Your generosity and support during this time of overwhelming grief will mean everything to them. We appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and any help you can provide. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being there for the Bresca family in this unimaginable time of need.”
Durham Regional Police said their officers responded to the two-alarm fire and found the man outside the home. He informed them that his wife and two daughters were still inside.
Neighbours reportedly saw the father outside – with burns visible to his arms and nose – yelling, “Help, help! Call 911!”
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Police said officers used extinguishers to battle the flames until firefighters arrived.
And seven officers were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation.
Oshawa Fire Deputy Chief Todd Wood said a woman and two children were located on the second floor, with one child moved down the stairs and out the front door while the others were removed through a second-storey window.
The fire completely destroyed the home after the second floor collapsed onto the main floor, said Jim Gillespie of the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
“Well, we’re looking at everything, both outside the house and inside the house, with regards to fire patterns,” Gillespie told reporters at the scene Friday, explaining the OFM will also be talking to witnesses and looking for any video that may help with the investigation.
— With files from Jack Boland and Chris Doucette