1 dead, 2 critically hurt in fire at downtown Toronto apartment

One person is dead and two others are in critical condition after a fire broke out at a residential building in downtown Toronto.

Crews responded to a three-alarm blaze at a building near Dundas and Sherbourne streets around 1 a.m.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke on the third floor of the six-storey apartment and were able to knock the fire down.

Three people were taken to hospital in critical condition. A man in his 40s has since been pronounced dead and two others have life-threatening injuries, including a man in his 70s.

Toronto Fire says two firefighters were also injured.

One man has died/two others fighting for their lives in hospital after overnight fire in this apt bldg at Sherbourne/Dundas. Several other residents now homeless due to extreme damage on third floor. One resident climbed out window/climbed down tree(shown in video)to escape. pic.twitter.com/joD8KelxM8

— carl hanstke (@carlCityNews) December 13, 2022

A woman who lives in the third floor unit where the fire started says she heard the hiss of escaping gas next to her refrigerator and witnessed flames shoot out. She managed to get out of the unit without injury.

Another resident managed to escape through a window and climb down a tree to avoid injury.

The building at 319 Dundas St. E. is a Toronto housing provider for adults. Acting Fire Chief Jim Jessop says most of the residents have been allowed back in their units, except for those living on the third and fourth floors.

There are approximately 20 displaced residents who will need temporary shelter.

“I’m continuing to get updates on the city’s response to a tragic fire overnight at All Saints Residence on Dundas,” said Mayor John Tory in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the one person who has died.”

The Office of the Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate. There is no official word on the cause of the fire.

All Saints has sent up a GoFundMe to assist displaced residents and help reopen the drop-in kitchen.

Dundas Street East was closed for the investigation but the road has since reopened.