One-year-old girl dies in Westport, Ont. fire
A house fire in Rideau Lakes Township has claimed the life of a one-year-old girl.
The fire at the home on Concession Road 9 in Westport, Ont. started around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
Police said Thursday the body of one-year-old Samara Holmes was found in the home after the blaze was extinguished.
Ontario Provincial Police say Holmes was sleeping at home with four of her family members when the fire broke out.
"One adult that was able to escape the house with two children, and by the time they were able to go back inside it was covered in smoke and it was impossible," said OPP Sgt. Cynthia Savard.
Two firefighters were injured while fighting the fire.
A small tribute of flowers and stuffed animals was placed outside the home Wednesday afternoon and continued to grow on Thursday.
Family members have started a GoFundMe page, which had raised more than $22,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
The Leeds OPP Crime Unit is investigating along with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, Chief Coroner for Ontario and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
Police said anyone with information should contact OPP or Crime Stoppers, and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
"There were heavy conditions and there was a child who was unaccounted for inside the home," Rideau Lakes Fire Chief Scott Granahan said on Wednesday.
Firefighters trying to rescue the child from the heavy smoke and flames became trapped themselves.
"A section of the ceiling collapsed, striking and trapping two of our firefighters," said Granaham. "They were rescued by other firefighters and taken to hospital."
The OPP says the fire is not considered suspicious.
Westport is about 120 kilometres southwest of Ottawa.
- with files from CTV's Kimberley Johnson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.