Man who died in Christmas Day fire remembered as a best friend to his grandchildren

A man who died in a fire on Christmas Day in Scarborough was a fun and loving grandfather and a best friend to his grandchildren, his granddaughter said. 

Newton Buchanan, 85, was celebrating Christmas with a long-time friend when the house fire broke out. He had decided to spend the holiday with them as they were grieving the loss of their husband.

Emergency crews responded to the scene just after 2:30 a.m. Buchanan was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Nine others were in the house at the time, his family said. 

Monique Brown, Buchanan's granddaughter, says his family are overwhelmed and heartbroken. 

"We're trying to figure out what the process is going forward, healing and supporting each other," she told CBC Toronto on Saturday. 

Brown said investigators with the fire department told the family the fire may have been caused by a faulty heater or someone smoking in an upstairs room. 

Investigators believe Buchanan was trailing behind while escaping the house, before he fell and was left there, Brown said. 

"Because of that, we have to have a closed casket for my grandfather," she said. 

Brown, her father and her cousin were watching news reports about the fire later on Christmas Day when they "put the pieces of the puzzle together" and realized Buchanan may have been the victim, she said. 

Brown remembers her grandfather as wise, loving and inspiring. 

"He instilled in me a lot of confidence and heart," she said. 

Buchanan raised a family in Canada before moving back to Jamaica, where he was originally from. He split his time between the two countries, returning to Toronto over the holidays to visit family and friends. 

He took two buses and the train to visit his friend on Christmas Day, his family said.

Brown said her grandfather would be grateful for the support his family is receiving, from friends and strangers alike. A GoFundMe started by a family friend has raised just over $3,000.