House fire in Toronto's east end leaves 1 dead
One person has died after an early morning fire at a rooming house in Leslieville.
Firefighters were called to a home on Coxwell Avenue, north of Dundas Street East, shortly before 5:30 a.m.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
They discovered a fire on the second floor, which they managed to knock down quickly.
One person without vital signs was pulled from the home by firefighters. They were pronounced dead at the scene, Toronto Paramedic Services said.
There was no immediate word as to the identity of the person or about how the fire started.
No other injuries were reported.
Speaking with reporters outside of the house, Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said that as many as seven people live in the “rooming house type home” but firefighters managed to contain the blaze to one area.
Emergency crews respond to a fire at a home on Coxwell Avenue in Leslieville Thursday January 18, 2024.
He said residents have indicated that the property may not have had working smoke alarms, and said that will be part of the investigation conducted by fire officials.
"The investigation that will be undertaken here will of course look into fire's origin, cause and circumstances," Pegg said. "But we will also undertake a full inspection of the building to determine if the building was in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code and that will include smoke alarms.
"If that is not the case we'll take the necessary enforcement action related to those violations."
The chief urged people to make sure that they have working smoke alarms on every level of their home and outside every sleeping area and to practice regular fire safety protocols.
"Please test them (smoke detectors), make sure they are there, make sure they are not older than 10 years old," Pegg said. "Make sure you test them and that they work. And please today before you go back to bed tonight, practice your home escape plan and make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in the event that smoke alarm sounds."
Emergency vehicles respond to a fire at a home on Coxwell Avenue in Leslieville Thursday January 18, 2024. (MIke Nguyen /CP24)
A TTC shelter bus has been brought in to keep people warm as firefighters continue their work at the scene.
Pegg said the fire department has been in touch with Toronto Emergency Management and the Red Cross in order to connect affected residents with emergency shelter service.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977485.1721935249!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
LIVE UPDATES Rain reduces wildfire activity, aids firefighters: Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials said Thursday night that rain over the day resulted in "minimal fire behaviour and spread."
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.