A man has died hours after he was pulled from a residential fire in Toronto on Wednesday.
Emergency crews were called to a property on Dupont Street, east of Dundas Street West, during the noon hour.
Toronto Fire Services Chief Matthew Pegg said there was a working fire when crews arrived and firefighters moved into search and rescue operations.
“We did locate one occupant on the second storey of the building,” Pegg said, noting that the first floor is a commercial space.
The man was transferred over to the care of Toronto paramedics in critical condition.
However, in an update hours later just after 8:30 p.m., Pegg said the man had died from his injuries.
“I am so sad to report that the occupant rescued from this fire has passed away as a result of their injuries,” Pegg said. “On behalf of Toronto Fire, I extend my sincere condolences and thoughts to the family, friends and all those impacted by this tragic news.”
Pegg said firefighters were able to quickly control and ultimately extinguish the blaze, preventing spread to neighbouring buildings. He said there’s a “considerable amount of damage” in the apartment unit on the second floor and crews remained on the scene into the afternoon to monitor.
One cat was also found dead. Two other cats were rescued and are reported to be in “good” condition, Pegg said.
Toronto fire and police are now investigating the cause of the blaze. The Office of the Fire Marshal will also be notified, Pegg said.
“The investigation, as always, will be comprehensive,” he said.
“It will look at both the origin and cause of the fire, as well as the circumstances contributing both to the fire and to the injuries. And I suspect that process will take a considerable amount of time.”
There is no word on whether smoke alarms were present or working, but that will be part of the investigation, Pegg said.
— With files from Gabby Rodrigues