Attic fire in rural area of Markham, Ont. leaves 1 dead

A man has died after a fire took hold of a house in a rural part of Markham, Ont., on Monday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the scene, on Reesor Road north of its intersection with Steeles Avenue, just after 3 p.m.

York Regional Police Sgt. Andy Pattenden said firefighters arrived at the blaze “relatively quickly,” along with police and paramedics. When first responders got to the fire, they found the house “engulfed” in flames.

Pattenden said two men were able to flee the home when the fire broke out but a third was declared dead at the house.

A spokesperson for York Region, which runs local paramedic services, echoed the assessment in a statement to Global News.

“One patient was pronounced VSA on scene,” the spokesperson said. VSA stands for vital signs absent.

They said an ambulance, special response ambulance and superintendent were all sent to help with the fire and its fallout.

Officials with Toronto fire said they had been called to support Markham firefighters with the blaze. They said the fire was reported in the attic of a home.

Pattenden said police were in the process of identifying the deceased man and notifying his next of kin.

The scene is being held for the Ontario Firemarshall to launch an investigation. There is no indication yet of what led to the fire.

“This investigation is ongoing,” Pattenden said.