TORONTO -- Police say that a 24-year-old man has been arrested following a fatal fire at a home in Rexdale.
The fire broke out inside a residence on Stallion Place, in the vicinity of Highway 27 and Rexdale Boulevard, at around 9:25 p.m. on Wednesday.
The victim, believed to be a woman in her 50s, was pulled from the home without vital signs but was pronounced dead on scene.
Meanwhile, a firefighter was taken to hospital with minor injuries from heat exhaustion.
The suspect, who lived in the home, was arrested at an area hospital following the fire.
Police tell CP24 that a 23 Division officer happened to be at the hospital on an unrelated call when he encountered the suspect and began an investigation.
Police say that the fire is considered suspicious at this time, though the investigation could turn into a homicide probe if the evidence warrants it.
About 30 firefighters were on the scene at the peak of the fire.
"This was a significant fire," Deputy Chief Jim Jessop told CP24 on Wednesday night. "There's not much left inside of both first and second floor. (The fire) literally melted the shed at the rear of the building."
A neighbour, who identified himself only as Samson, told CP24 he was first alerted to the fire when he noticed smoke coming into his townhome.
He said he eventually went to the backyard to see where it was coming from and saw smoke on the roof of his neighbour’s house.
He said he called 911 and when firefighters arrived, he told them he believed there was someone still inside the residence.
“I was just yelling to let them know that’s she’s inside,” he said. “Since I saw a car outside, I know she’s inside.”
He added that the woman next door has been his neighbour for more than 10 years and works as a nurse.
“She’s a good woman,” he said.
