3 boys killed in Brampton fire identified, one called 911 for help

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The house was gutted just after 9 am when mom went to drop her youngest kid to nearby school

The Canadian Bazaar

BRAMPTON: One of the three boys – identified as Alex Bagan-Overholt, Riley and Coen – killed Thursday morning after a fire swept through their house in the area of Torbram Road and Clark Boulevard in Brampton called 911 to say that he was trapped inside the burning house.

It took firefighters just six minutes to reach the house, but by then the house was totally burnt, according Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.

When the paramedics reached the home which was totally engulfed, they found the boys without vital signs. They were rushed to Brampton Civic Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

A friend of the boys’ mother Heather Bagan have identified the three boys as Alex Bagan-Overholt, 9, and his brothers Riley, 12 and Coen 15.

Peel Police Constable Akhil Mooken told the media on Thursday that the fire occurred when the mother went to drop her youngest kid – reported to be 4-5 years old – at the nearby school.

Constable Mooken said, “We heard conversations occurring where people are questioning the motives of the mother, the purpose behind this. We want to make sure that we get the message out there as soon as possible that this is not a case where police are investigating it as a neglect-type incident. This is a tragic circumstance where mom went to drop off another child at school, returned home and discovered that the home was engulfed in flames.”

Constable Mooken went on to say, “We want to make sure that we give the family as much time as possible to grieve before we are able to confirm the specific relationship or even their names at this time.”

The office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate the cause – which will take some days.

Brampton Fire chief Bill Boyes, who was at the media briefing, expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the children.

Boyes said, “This is a heartbreaking day for the whole community” and “very difficult emotionally” for first responders.

“I mean, we all have families and brothers and sisters and moms and dads and children, and just to see an incident like this, it just really hits home with everybody.”

Premier Doug Ford expressed his shock over the tragedy.

“My heart breaks for this family and the entire community affected in Brampton. I echo Mayor Patrick Brown in thanking the brave firefighters for their efforts. I understand they did everything they could. This is an absolute tragedy,” the Premier tweeted.

Mayor Patrick Brown tweeted, “I am heart broken to report we have confirmed 3 fatalities at this fire. All 3 are children (ages 16, 15 & 10). I want to acknowledge the efforts of all the firefighters on scene who faced extremely challenging fire conditions and risked their lives to try save these three children.”

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie too expressed her shock at the tragedy.

“This is incredibly heartbreaking news. My thoughts are with the family of the three children, their loved ones, friends and the entire Brampton community as they grieve this tremendous loss,” tweeted the Mississauga Mayor.

Federal Minister of Seniors and Brampton West MP Kamal Khera said “no words can describe the depths of this tragedy. The entire Brampton community is keeping the family and friends of the children in our thoughts and prayers.”

Brampton city lowered flags at half-mast at all city facilities and City Hall’s clock tower dimmed in memory of the three children on Thursday night.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Regarding jassi sidhu, if the family wanted to remain backward in their thoughts, why did they go to the west to build a better life? You cannot blame their children for wanting to be western because they have not been born and raised in india. These stupid notions about females, the dowry systems etc need to be abolished. Females are your mothers!! How were you sons born? Its ridiculous and no religion supports this behaviour on honour killings! Time to move on from these primitive thoughts

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