Durham Regional Police announced Monday evening that a body had been found in a building gutted by fire in Bowmanville last week.
The discovery comes as the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate the cause of the fire.
Last Thursday, a major fire broke out in historic downtown Bowmanville, Ont., destroying two buildings that were home to several businesses and residential units. Clarington Fire Chief David Speed said at the time that officials had unconfirmed reports of one person unaccounted for.
Police said the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office is working to confirm the victim’s identity.
In a statement Tuesday, Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster said, “Our community stands in profound shock and deep sorrow.”
“The tragic loss of a resident in the devastating downtown Bowmanville fire has impacted us all,” he added.
Foster offered condolences to the victim’s friends and family. “As a community, our heart breaks for those impacted by this catastrophic fire,” he wrote.
The Chronicle will continue to provide updates as more details emerge.