‘It’s awful’: Oshawa community shocked after house fire deemed as arson

Elderly woman in critical condition after what investigators are calling a suspicious fire. The blaze broke out at a home on McNaughton Avenue in Oshawa.

Neighbours living in Oshawa’s south end are in shock after a suspicious fire left an elderly woman in critical condition.

Oshawa fire crews were called to 250 McNaughton Ave. around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Deputy Fire Chief Steve Barkwell says it appears the fire broke out on the main level, causing thousands of dollars in damages.

Police were also called to the scene and discovered two occupants were able to escape. However, Sgt. Joanne Bortoluss with Durham Regional Police says one of them, an elderly woman, was taken to a local hospital.

“A 67-year-old woman was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, where she was originally in life-threatening condition. And that condition has been upgraded to critical,” says Bortoluss.

Police are unsure of the relationship, but say they are known to each other.

Both the Ontario fire marshal’s office and Durham police have determined the cause to be arson.Now, members of the criminal investigations bureau are trying to piece together what caused the blaze.

Police won’t comment on the nature of why the CIB is involved but say their detectives are looking for anything that can help.