Remains of man found after blaze destroys Ottawa Valley home

The remains of one man have been found in the rubble of a home in Eganville, Ont.

The small Ottawa Valley town saw the fire completely destroy a home on John Street on Aug. 23. Police confirmed the remains were found inside the residence.

The Renfrew County Crime Unit, supported by the Office of the Fire Marshal and the Office of the Chief Coroner and identification services are continuing to investigate the fire.

“Our Forensic Identification Unit and investigators from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office conducted a detailed examination of the fire scene to determine the cause of the fire and we also focus on the cause of death,” Bill Dickson, Media Relations officer for OPP told CityNews. “A post mortem examination is needed in cases such as this to officially confirm the identity of the victim and to determine the cause of death.”

Officials have deemed the fire non-suspicious.

On Friday at around 5:15 a.m. the volunteer fire department, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and paramedics responded to a “fully-involved” blaze.

“The fire was under control within an hour, but the home is a total loss,” Darryl Wagner, Chief of Bonnechere Valley Fire Department, previously told CityNews in an interview.

It’s possible the open concept of the home contributed to the fire spreading quickly, he said. A photo of the home shows severe damage throughout with a few walls still standing. 

The fire has hit the tight-knit community hard.

“Sadly we have seen multiple fatal house fires across eastern Ontario,” Dickson said. “Every single fatality is one too many.”