Victims of fatal Brampton housefire may not have had working smoke alarms

Smoke alarms may not have been installed or working in the Brampton home of a young family of five killed in housefire this week.

Brampton firefighters were out reminding residents in Brampton’s Conestoga Drive community about fire safety and the importance of smoke alarms after two adults and three children died in a fire on Monday (March 28).

Family have identified the victims as husband and wife Nazir Ali, Raven Alisha Ali O’Dea and their three children Alia Marilyn Ali O’Dea, Jayden Prince Ali O’Dea and Layla Rose Ali O’Dea.

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) is investigating the cause and circumstances around the fire, but family members say smoke alarms in the Ali family home may have been taken down for a recent renovation.

Brampton Fire Chief Bill Boyes and firefighters canvassed the neighbourhood on Thursday to spread the word on fire alarm safety after discovering homes in the community weren’t prepared.

“We’re finding no working smoke alarms, smoke alarms with batteries removed in this immediate vicinity where five people just died,” Boyes told reporters following the blaze. “Honestly, it’s completely unacceptable. We have to do better.”

A Brampton family of five was killed in a housefire on March 28, 2022. The victims have been identified as 28-year-old Nazir Ali, 29-year-old Raven Alisha Ali O’Dea, and their three children Alia Marilyn Ali O’Dea, Jayden Prince Ali O’Dea and Layla Rose Ali O’Dea.

Nazir’s sister Bismah Ali has started a GoFundMe account to help raise funds for the family’s funeral costs.

Ali said she’s in disbelief that she won’t see her nieces and nephews again and hopes Brampton residents are “more vigilant” with fire alarms and smoke detectors.

Louie Felipa, Alisha Ali O’Dea’s father, said the deaths are a wake-up call about fire safety.

“Take time to check your alarm. If you love your kids, check them,” Felipa said.

Nazir’s sister Bismah Ali has started a GoFundMe account to help raise funds for the family’s funeral costs.

Ali said she’s in disbelief that she won’t see her nieces and nephews again and the family is urging Brampton residents to make sure they have alarms in their own homes.

“I just really hope that next time in scenarios like this people are more careful with the surroundings of their homes when it comes to fire alarms and smoke detectors and are more vigilant about it.”

The Fire Marshal, Brampton Fire and Peel Regional Police are working to determine the cause of the blaze.

Fire Marshal Jon Pegg stressed the importance of using fire alarms and regularly making sure they are in working order.

“A simple battery powered smoke alarm that can cost you $10 to $15 will save your life and save your family.”

The family’s GoFundMe page received over $72,000 in pledges of a $150,000 goal as of Friday afternoon.