Autopsy expected Wednesday after body pulled from Stoney Creek bungalow fire

Fire investigators have safely removed a body from a Stoney Creek bungalow decimated by fire Tuesday.

An autopsy was ongoing Wednesday afternoon in Toronto where investigators hope to get answers on the cause of death and identity of the victim.

Emergency services were called to the home at 22 Alpine Ave., northwest of King Street East and Centennial Parkway South, around 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The first firefighters on scene found heavy smoke and flames throughout the bungalow and the call was upgraded, bringing in more resources from across the city.

On Tuesday, Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said firefighters initially tried to search inside the home, but had to retreat because the floor collapsed. They fought the fire from the outside, extinguishing the blaze through windows and doors.

The lone occupant who lived in the home was unaccounted for.

Shortly after noon, the fire department said they found a body inside the home. But removing it proved a challenge for investigators.

Andrea Gaynor, one of two investigators from the Office of the Fire Marshal sent to the scene, said they had to remove bricks at the back of the home to access the area. Crews were able to safely remove the remains later Tuesday.

By late Wednesday morning, Gaynor was in Toronto attending the autopsy.

Meanwhile, lead fire investigator Marcel Chiasson returned to the home Wednesday to begin to examine the fire scene.

It is a challenging property. The entire main-level floor collapsed in the blaze and there was more than a metre of water in the basement. On Tuesday afternoon, hours after the fire, there were still hot spots at the back of the home.

Fire investigators are expected to be on site for days.

Hamilton police are assisting in identifying the victim. The arson unit and criminal investigation branch were notified of the fire Tuesday. However, there was no information to immediately suggest the fire was suspicious.

Presently, the OFM is in charge of the fire scene and the death is a coroner's case. Investigators are awaiting results from the autopsy and information from the fire scene.

It is not clear if there were working smoke alarms in the home.

No one else was hurt in the fire.

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com