A woman in her 70s died in an early-morning house fire in the city's east end, becoming the city's first fire fatality of 2007.
Firefighters battled the two-alarm blaze on Barrington Avenue, near Danforth Avenue and Main Street, for nearly an hour before they were able to enter the bungalow.
The home was filled with collectibles that made it difficult for crews to manoeuvre once inside.
"There was a lot of material and possessions inside the building which made it difficult for firefighters to get through," said Platoon Chief Norm Clement.
"It really held us back in trying to search for the fire. The fire got a firm hold inside the building, so much so that one of the crews fell through the stairs when they were doing the initial search."
When firefighters were able to enter, they found the unconscious woman upstairs. Paramedics attempted to revive her, but they could not.
The victim's name has not yet been released. Neighbours said the woman, Maria, was 75 years old.
More than a dozen fire trucks and dozens of firefighters responded to the fire, which began at about 6 a.m.
Several homes on the street were evacuated as a precaution and the road was closed to traffic.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
With a report from CTV's Jim Junkin
