The niece of an elderly woman killed in a house fire in north-end Toronto describes her aunt as “strong-willed” and a “wonderful person.”
“It was very much a surprise to us,” said Wendy Heigh, the victim’s niece.
“We didn’t expect this at all.”
Toronto Fire Services said crews were called to a house on Bathford Crescent, near Leslie Street and Finch Avenue East, at 12:25 p.m. Saturday.
After arriving, firefighters found heavy smoke. A spokesman said the fire was believed to have been in the living room.
“In the course of our search and rescue and fire suppression operations, there was one victim located inside the home,” Matthew Pegg, Fire Chief with Toronto Fire Services said.
Toronto Fire and police have not released the identity of the victim but family said the victim’s name was Iris.
“She was independent. She did not want to leave the house. She lived here since – I think she was the first natural owner of the house – and she was just a very wonderful person,” Heigh said.
According to Heigh, Iris was in a wheelchair and had Parkinson’s disease.
Lesley Walsh, a neighbour, said she saw clouds of smoke coming from the home.
“When I came out of the house I saw smoke and the smoke kept getting thicker and thicker,” said Walsh.
“As soon as I saw it, I thought there is a fire around the corner.”
Toronto Fire Services said the investigation is still in its early stages and it will likely be a couple of days before they find the fire’s origin.
The coroner’s office has also been called in to assist with the investigation.
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