One person died after a fire broke out in an apartment in the far east of the city on Saturday morning.
Firefighters responded to a fire in an apartment building on Victoria Park Avenue near O’Connor Drive around 8:10 p.m.
Teams said the fire occurred in an eighth-floor unit.
When the crews arrived at the scene, they encountered heavy smoke and were forced to enter the unit.
“Our crews carried out their main search very quickly and put out the fire, and unfortunately during the main search we discovered an occupant who was obviously dead,” said Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop. at the scene.
The identity of the victim has not been revealed, but neighbors tell CP24 that a woman lived alone in the unit.
Authorities said the fire was quickly extinguished and no other units were affected.
Jessop noted that nearby fire alarms were sounding to alert nearby residents.
A neighbor, who identified himself as Larry, lives three doors below the affected unit and said he saw heavy smoke in the hallway as he evacuated the building.
“The alarm went off, I opened the door and then I saw smoke, so I went downstairs because it’s right at the end,” he said. “It was just the smell of smoke that was bad.”
Jessop said heavy smoke caused more damage to the unit than actual fire.
“The smoke was significant and heavy smoke conditions that began to migrate around the building. So our teams did a great job, you know, ventilating it and making sure it didn’t contaminate the rest of the building. building, “he said.
The Ontario fire commissioner has been called in to investigate the cause of the fire.
On behalf of all of us at @Toronto_Fire, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and all those affected by the deadly fire this morning on Victoria Park Avenue. Research on origin, cause and circumstances is underway with @ONFireMarshal @TorontoPolice
– Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) May 28, 2022