Chilling 911 calls for help were heard Thursday at a coroner’s inquest examining the fire that killed members of the Dunsmuir family in East Gwillimbury.
It was three years ago when fire tore through a home in Sharon, Ont. claiming the lives of four family members.
Kevin and Jennifer Dunsmuir and their teenage sons Cameron and Robert were trapped inside the master bedroom and died.
In the frantic call, the jury heard one of the Dunsmuir’s teenage sons who sounded desperate and confused.
“Did you get out of the house?” the dispatcher asked.
“I don’t know how, we’re trapped on the upper floor,” he responded.
The dispatcher would ask the young man if he can’t see. “We can’t see – it’s pitch black and everything,” he responded.
Calls made by neighbours were also shared at the inquest. One neighbour described the fire to the dispatcher and said they could hear screaming.
The inquest also heard calls from emergency responders at the scene relaying information.
In one call, a police officer told the dispatcher that the family didn’t make it out of the house and that it sounded like they were trapped in the parent’s bedroom.
The 911 call-taker testified that proper procedures were followed. The inquest heard she didn’t receive any specific training to assist people inside the burning home.
Investigators with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire was likely caused by a clogged dryer vent on the main floor. There was no working smoke detector on the main floor and by the time the second floor detector went off – it was too late.
The purpose is not to lay blame, but rather to look into what happened, the response from emergency services, the fire code and all aspects of fire safety.
The jury could also make recommendations to help prevent future fire deaths
The inquest continues and will hear testimony from responding firefighters.
