A tragic house fire in Brampton has left a man mourning the loss of five family members, including his newborn son. The devastating incident occurred in the early morning hours of November 20 at a rental property on Banas Way, where 11 individuals were residing.
Jugraj Singh, who was working as a truck driver in North Carolina at the time of the fire, was not home. His pregnant wife managed to escape the flames by jumping out of a window but suffered severe injuries in the process. An emergency cesarean section was performed, but regrettably, their newborn son did not survive. Additionally, Singh’s five-year-old son and two brothers-in-law were injured in the fire.
Singh has been actively involved in caring for his family during their hospital recovery. His son is facing a lengthy recuperation with multiple surgeries, including skin grafting procedures. Singh expressed his appreciation for the medical care they are receiving at two prominent hospitals: Sunnybrook Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children. He referred to his wife as “very brave” for her actions during the fire, noting that they were sleeping when they awoke to the smell of smoke. In a frantic moment, they broke a window and jumped onto a car below.
The fire claimed the lives of Singh's mother-in-law, sister-in-law, her two-year-old child, and his wife’s cousin, who have been identified as Harinder Kaur, Gurjit Kaur Grewal, Bantvir Singh Deol, and Anudeep Kaur. Singh described his family as very close-knit, emphasizing their joyful lives and the supportive nature of their household, where everyone worked together.
Despite the overwhelming tragedy, Singh expressed gratitude towards friends and the broader community for their support. A GoFundMe campaign has successfully raised nearly $120,000 to assist the family in rebuilding their lives. “I don’t think it will ever be the same, but we will try to start again,” Singh stated.
Investigation into Cause of Deadly Fire Ongoing
The investigation into the cause of this deadly blaze is expected to be long and thorough. Peel police have indicated that there is currently “nothing to indicate criminality.” The Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office is also probing the incident. Fire alarms were found in the home, but their functionality at the time of the fire remains unclear.
Following the fire, the house has been completely demolished by emergency crews. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown commented on the situation, characterizing the homeowner as an “absentee landlord” who failed to comply with city-mandated inspections and was not licensed to accommodate that many residents in the property. Brown revealed that the homeowner had applied for a building permit to create a second dwelling unit in the basement but did not follow through with required inspections.
