Person pronounced dead following fire at 'very complex' building in west Toronto
Investigators will soon be working to determine the cause, origin, and circumstances of a smoky fire that killed one person in Toronto’s west end Wednesday afternoon.
Around 2:10 p.m., Toronto Fire Services (TFS) was called to one-alarm fire at a commercial building at 1554 Bloor St. W, just west of Dundas Street West.
Speaking to the media at the scene on Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop said firefighters encountered flames and smoke upon arriving at the scene and immediately upgraded the incident to a second-alarm call.
“Toronto Fire Service made quick entry and started conducting our primary search while at the same time starting fire suppression activities,” he said, adding during that initial search crew members located one victim inside the building.
That individual has since been pronounced dead, Jessop said.
Emergency responders removed the victim from a second-floor window around 2:30 p.m.
“On behalf of all the women and men of Toronto Fire. I want to offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to those that have been impacted by this tragedy this afternoon,” said Jessop, who also thanked those affected for their patience.
At this time, TFS remains at the scene. Firefighters are continuing to ventilate and conduct overhaul of the building as they search for any remaining hotspots, he said.
Crews are now working their way through what Jessop said is a “very complex, complicated” structure.
He said status of the building, including both its occupancy at the time and any fire/life safety systems, will form part of the investigation. Jessop said he cannot comment on the location of the victim until police and the corner arrive at the scene.
“I can't thank the women and men of Toronto Fire enough this was a very complex fire with a very complex building. They made entry very, very quickly," he said.
"They were in right away in high heat, smoky conditions, conducting the primary search and conducting fire suppression activity simultaneously.”
Currently, eastbound Bloor is blocked at Perth Avenue. Southbound Dundas is off limits at Boustead Avenue. Toronto police are advising drivers to expect delays. Streetcar service has also been suspended due to fire hoses on the road.
Jessop said emergency responders are working to open one lane of traffic in both directions on Bloor and Dundas in time for rush hour. All roads have since reopened.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.