Police are investigating a weekend fire in a wooded area in east-end Chatham where authorities say an unidentified person was found dead.
Chatham-Kent police provided no details about the deceased person or the fire in a public advisory Sunday.
But three people who were nearby said they heard an explosion in the bush the night before and saw a woman who appeared to have suffered burns.
One of the three, Kenneth Verkaik, said he picked up the woman to take her out of the wooded area just before police arrived.
“I think she died in my arms,” he said.
Verkaik said he was at home on King Street East, about 200 metres away, when the fire happened around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Two other people, Jessica Woudenberg and Verkaik’s sister Melissa Henderson, said they were also at the home. All three said they heard an explosion and went outside to see what was going on.
“All of sudden there was a big explosion, like a propane tank or something,” Woudenberg said.
She said the flames were about a metre high. “It was like a tent or something burned around it,” she said.
Police could not be reached for further comment Sunday.
Earlier in the day, police issued the advisory about increased activity in the area as officers worked with the fire department and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office in the investigation.
Verkaik said he went outside Saturday night and saw the fire and three men walking around it.
As he went toward the blaze, Verkaik said he saw the woman who appeared to him to be older and who had apparently been burned.
The experience so shook him up, Verkaik said he hadn’t been able to sleep.
“It’s unfortunate,” said Henderson, adding her brother did all he could to help.
Chatham-Kent police are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact them.