A seven-year-old boy is dead after a fire at a home northwest of Barrie overnight.
The blaze broke out at a home on Highway 26 near County Road 10 in Clearview Township shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday.
Ontario Provincial Police say that four of the occupants of the home were able to make it out, however the seven-year-old was trapped inside and ended up perishing in the fire “despite rescue efforts by first responders and persons at scene.”
A family friend told CTV News Barrie that the young boy was autistic. He said two families lived in the home.
Crews from the New Tecumseth, Clearview,Adjala-Tosorontio, Springwater and Wasaga Beach were all called in to battle the fire, which was declared under control at around 10:30 p.m.
The cause of the fire is not known. Local fire officials and investigators with the Ontario Fire Marshal have taken over the investigation.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help one of the families affected by the blaze. According to the site, the family consisted of a father, three children an 18-year-old and another adult.
"The family is in need of everything and any donations would be greatly appreciated," the GoFundMe reads. "They did not have insurance so starting from the bottom is not easy."
The organizers ask for adult and children's clothing as donations as well as monetary donations.
With files from CTV News Barrie
