Human remains were found inside the home after firefighters brought the blaze under control. (Rob Krbavac/CBC)
Neighbours shocked over fire, family’s death
Nicholas Qaqish said he was at home at the time of the fire and that he heard a loud explosion from a house down the street. Qaqish said he felt his window shake from the impact and that the heat touched his skin when he went outside to find the source of the sound.
“Everybody was freaking out, trying to figure out what was going on,” he said.
“It was one of the most craziest things I’ve ever seen, one of the most traumatic things I’ve seen, especially in this area. It’s just something that you never think would happen in your neighborhood.”
Sree Nandyala, a resident of the neighbourhood for about three years, said she was shocked to learn about what happened. As a university student, she said it was particularly sad to learn of the 16-year-old’s death.
“To find out someone so young died … it’s terrifying to think about,” she said.
“We heard that they were really good people, we heard that they’re [a] really good family. It’s really sad to think about the fact that they’re all gone.”
Anyone with information or relevant video is asked to contact Peel police or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.