Hamilton Fire and police were called to 104 Beach Rd., a two-storey building at the corner of Gage Avenue North, shortly after noon Oct. 22 for a reported structure fire. When firefighters arrived they saw heavy black smoke coming from the second floor and then found a fire on the first floor that was "quickly knocked down," said Deputy Fire Chief John Verbeek. Damage to the vacant building, which was under renovation, is estimated to be $5,000.

Rebekah Pezze, 22, of Hamilton was pronounced dead after being pulled from a second-floor apartment unit at 104 Beach Rd., at the corner of Gage Avenue North. An autopsy revealed she died as a result of the fire, said Det. Sgt. Peter Thom.