Teen calls 911 from neighbour’s home after man breaks in with knife

WATCH: Cindy Pom reports on the bizarre home invasion in Toronto’s east end Tuesday.

TORONTO – A man is in hospital, firefighters are on scene and police are investigating after a botched armed robbery led to a house fire in the east-end of Toronto.

Witnesses say the 14-year-old boy was home alone at his family home on Binswood Avenue near Woodbine Avenue and O’Connor Avenue Tuesday, when a man broke through the side door armed with a knife.

The teenager ran to the neighbour’s home where he called 911. When police arrived at the house, the suspect barricaded himself inside and allegedly set fire to some pillows.

“All of a sudden there was smoke coming from the roof. So we saw the fire and it burned down the top floor,” Mathew De Franco, the teen’s neighbour said. “It was very tough for him. He stayed strong though and he knows what’s going on and I think he’s going to be fine.”

De Franco said police and firefighters entered the basement first and were able to put out the fire and arrest the suspect.

Police said the man fell down the stairs of the home when he was being removed and was knocked unconscious. He was later taken to hospital.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been notified but has not invoked its mandate. The SIU investigates whenever a person is injured while dealing with police.