4 injured, 1 woman critically, in five-alarm blaze in North York

Four people, including two firefighters, were injured after a five-alarm blaze ripped through a Toronto Community Housing building in North York.

As many as 50 firefighters were on scene to battle the fire which broke out in a 14-story residential building on Bathurst Street just south of Steeles Avenue just after 8:30 p.m.

Firefighters were greeted by heavy smoke coming from the fifth floor of the building in what Fire Chief Matthew Pegg called a “difficult and complicated incident.”

A woman was found on the fifth floor by fire crews without any vital signs. They began administering life-saving measures but because of the smoke and flames from the fire, she needed to be carried down by a ladder to paramedics. She was transported to a trauma centre in life-threatening condition along with a second individual.

Two firefighters, including a Toronto fire captain, were also taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

“The heat and fire conditions on the fifth floor were significant,” said Acting Fire Chief Jim Jessop while praising the work of firefighters.

“You can imagine walking into a chimney …close your eyes and think of the heat and smoke coming out of a fire and that’s exactly what our staff had to fight their way through to knock the fire down.”

Officials said the blaze had been brought under control some three hours after it started but crews were still dealing with significant smoke and heat.

TTC shelter buses were sent to the scene to assist those who had to be evacuated from the floor where the fire originated but fire officials say most of the residents were told to shelter in place due to the heavy smoke.

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office along with the Toronto Fire investigations division have been called in to investigate.

Toronto Community Housing released a statement on Friday morning, saying 29 tenants from the fifth floor were displaced from the fire and accommodations were offered to all those who needed it.

TCH says the majority declined the offer and stayed with family and friends, but accommodations in a local hotel were found for some.

The unit were the fire started sustained major damage and is uninhabitable. Due to the ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire, TCH has been unable to access to fifth floor to determine whether any other units were damaged.

While they don’t know the cause at this time, TCH says all fire alarms and other life safety systems were working properly.

Staff are on the scene this morning to assist tenants and restore elevator service and hot water to the building.