Man dead in east-end house fire, neighbours describe ‘hoarding situation’
Posted August 3, 2022 5:46 am.
Last Updated August 3, 2022 9:02 am.
A man is dead following an early morning house fire in Toronto’s Riverdale neighbourhood.
Crews responded to a blaze at a home at 301 Riverdale Avenue, in the area of Pape and Gerrard, around 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday.
A man was located on the second floor of the semi-detached two storey residence and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The house is described by neighbours in the area as a hoarding situation and crews say they had to fight their way inside past all the items rammed on the porch and in hallways
A man has died in an early morning fire on Riverdale Ave near Pape/Gerrard. Neighbours say he was a hoarder and rarely came outside. Fire crews had to fight their way inside past stuff packed in rooms & hallways and on front porch. No word yet on cause of fire. pic.twitter.com/odVQQxt2Iu
— carl hanstke (@carlCityNews) August 3, 2022
“I know the house very well,” one neighbour tells CityNews. “It’s always been like that. I’m actually not surprised it was a fire.”
“That’s probably the cause of the fire, all the stuff in the house.”
Fire Chief Matthew Pegg confirmed the deceased man was the only occupant inside the home at the time.
The adjacent house was also evacuated and the residents are being provided a temporary place to stay.
There is no official word on the cause of the fire and the investigation is ongoing.
With files from Carl Hanstke
