One woman dies in massive Leslieville fire

A 63-year-old woman died as a result of a massive fire that gutted one townhouse in the Queen St. E and Greenwood area late Tuesday morning.

The woman’s husband stepped out for 20 minutes to take a friend to the dentist and when he returned saw a woman and her baby trapped on a balcony. Knowing that his wife was trapped in the building, he instructed the woman to drop the 20-month-old baby. She dropped it from the second story allowing the man to make a perfect catch and save the baby’s life. Emergency workers later rescued the woman by ladder. The mother and toddler are being treated for smoke inhalation in hospital and are expected to be fine.

The fire, which began at 11:34 a.m., was originally a 3-alarm blaze but has since been downgraded to a 2-alarm fire. There is extensive damage to one unit and minimal damage to the adjoining units.

Several other people in the townhouse complex were evacuated and put on TTC busses that arrived about 30 minutes after the fire began.

There are reports that an explosion was heard near the back of the building before the fire began.

The woman who died was known to have smoked and used oxygen due to medical conditions. She was found by firefighters on her balcony and pronounced dead on scene.

The blaze forced over a dozen people out in to the cold and they continue to be homeless. The fire marshall’s office has been called in to investigate, but there is no word yet on possible causes.