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Encampment fire at Toronto cell tower leaves one dead: police, fire officials

Emergency services on the scene of a fatal encampment fire reported near Liberty Village on Jan. 7, 2023. Marc Cormier / Global News

One person has died after a fire at an encampment in Toronto, officials say.

Toronto Fire Capt. Bill Papakonstantinou told Global News crews were called to Liberty Street and Jefferson Avenue in Liberty Village at around 6:10 a.m. for a cell tower fire.

When firefighters arrived, they extinguished the blaze. Officials said it was an encampment fire started beneath the cell tower.

Toronto police were on the scene with firefighters.

At the scene, first responders found one person who had died. Officials said no other injuries were reported and they did not encounter other witnesses at the scene.

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“It appears that the person was underneath the tower, whether they’re living there or temporarily situated there,” Toronto fire said.

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“There seems to be some kind of temporary enclosure in the area so it looks as if the person was there.”

An investigation has been launched by the Ontario Fire Marshall, the coroner and Toronto Fire investigators.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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