One person is in serious condition in a Toronto hospital after several people were rescued from a burning apartment building in Etobicoke late Saturday morning.
Firefighters used ladders to rescue trapped residents from their windows or balconies at the three-storey building on Park Lawn Road, said Capt. Mike Strapko, a Toronto Fire Services spokesman.
Emergency personnel rushed to the building, located north of The Queensway, shortly before 11:40 a.m.
The blaze broke out in a second-floor suite, filling the hallways with smoke.
Strong wind gusts blew the smoke back into the building, even after the fire was extinguished, said Toronto Fire Services platoon chief Don Beam.
Because the hallways were filled with smoke, firefighters told residents to remain in their suites and put wet towels under their doors to try to prevent the smoke from wafting into their suites, Beam told CP24 reporter Jackie Crandles.
Firefighters then rescued people who were trapped in their suites.
At least three people were transported to hospital - one who suffered burns and two who suffered smoke inhalation, Beam said.
The person who suffered burns is an occupant of the suite that the fire was contained to, Beam said at the scene.
One of the victims was in serious condition, a Toronto EMS spokesperson said.
The building's smoke alarms functioned properly, residents told CP24.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire crews battle blaze at house
About 30 minutes after the Park Lawn Road blaze, firefighters were called to extinguish a fire at a two-storey house on Prue Avenue, near Glencairn Avenue and Allen Road.
The fire started on the roof as a work crew was doing repairs on the house, a Toronto Fire Services spokesperson said.
There were reports that the blaze spread to a second home.
No serious injuries were reported.
With files from CP24 reporter Jackie Crandles.
