St. Catharines House Fire Leaves 1 Man Dead, 2 Dogs Killed

A 54-year-old man has died after a house fire on Merritt Street near Ball Avenue West in St. Catharines on Sunday, Nov. 8, Niagara Regional Police said. Officers and St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services responded to the report at about 7:45 a.m.

Police said the man, a St. Catharines resident, was the son of the home’s 81-year-old owner. The owner escaped the fire and was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, according to police. Two dogs also died in the fire.

Investigation and appeal

The Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating the cause and origin of the fire, while detectives with the police service’s 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. Police said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Neither the cause of the fire nor the cause of death appeared suspicious at the time of the release, police said. Damage was estimated at more than $100,000.

The fire marshal’s office and police investigators want to speak with witnesses and anyone who may have video footage of the incident. Anyone with information can contact the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009865. Anyone wishing to provide information anonymously can call the NRPS tip line at 289-248-1058. The incident number is 26-141284.