Fire destroys historic funeral home in downtown Oshawa

Fire destroyed a 147-year-old funeral home in downtown Oshawa early Monday morning. Photo Dot McFarlane A family-owned funeral home with more than 150 years of history in downtown Oshawa was destroyed Monday morning after a fire ripped through McIntosh-Anderson Funeral Home on King Street. Emergency crews were called out to the scene just before 4 a.m. and were able to get the blaze under control, but not before the entire building was engulfed, forcing firefighters to tear down the structure due to the damage. No word on the cause of the blaze though Durham Police have called the fire 'suspicious,' and are leading the investigation. The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office has not yet been called in. There are no injuries reported. 'It is a total loss, so we're just tearing it down to make the area safe,' Oshawa Fire Chief Jim Lee told reporters. The funeral centre opened in 1853, with current owners John and Willie Kellam taking over the business in 1995. The family, in a post on the McIntosh-Anderson-Kellam website, said they wanted to 'reassure everyone' that steps are being taken to secure the property following the fire and the destruction of the building. 'The situation is under control, and the safety and well-being of our families, staff, and community remain our highest priority,' the statement read. The business has partnered with Mount Lawn Funeral Home & Cemetery 'to assist and answer any questions or concerns.' PollView All Last 30 Days: 41,241 Votes All Time: 1,507,034 Votes 1537 VOTES Should e-bikes and e-scooters require a license to operate on public roads? Yes - riders should be licensed No - a licence shouldn't be required Vote 'Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation during this time.' Pictures of the fire flooded social media pages in Oshawa, as did comments of condolences to business owners. 'I worked there for 15 years. My heart aches for the Kellam Family.' – Ray 'My dad had his funeral there.' – Liz 'So very sad for owners, super sad for those whose family members were resting there AND sad for historic Oshawa's struggling downtown.' – Shaun