Tenant rescued from Hamilton apartment fire dies from injuries

A tenant who was rescued from a downtown Hamilton apartment fire has died from their injuries, the fire department announced on Thursday.

It’s the third fire-related death in Hamilton this year.

Fire crews responded to an alarm at 95 Hess St. South at 2 a.m. on Sunday and reported “a smell of smoke in the main floor lobby.”

It was when firefighters arrived on the seventh floor of the building that smoke could be seen coming from one of the units.

“Firefighters made entry reporting and reported heavy smoke and high heat in the fire unit,” according to Hamilton Fire Chief David Cunliffe. “The alarm was upgraded to a multiple-alarm, bringing resources from across the city to the scene.”

Crews found an individual inside the unit and transported them to the building lobby, where paramedics performed “life-saving measures.”

Officials said the individual sustained severe burn injuries and was transported to a local hospital before being transferred to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, which is home to Ross Tilley Burn Centre.

No other injuries were reported, and while the fire did spread to other floors, tenants at the geared-to-income building were reportedly evacuated in time.

Hamilton Fire turned the investigation over to the Ontario fire marshall.

No damage estimate was provided.