One dead after apartment fire in Kingston Road and Lawrence Ave East area
Posted February 25, 2023 4:48 pm.
Last Updated February 26, 2023 6:50 pm.
The Office of the Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate after one person died following an apartment fire in Scarborough.
Fire crews were called to the Toronto Community Housing building on Lawrence Avenue East at Kingston Road around 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
TFS is currently dealing with a 2-alarm residential highrise fire on Lawrence Ave E. (w. of Morningside Ave) One person as been removed VSA from the affected fire unit. 2 other occupants of the building were attended to & are being assessed. Fire has been knocked down^dv #Toronto
— Toronto Fire Services (@Toronto_Fire) February 25, 2023
Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg says crews were met with heavy smoke coming from a unit on the fifth floor of the building. A number of residents were located inside the building but one of them was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our crews successfully rescued an additional four people during the course of operations. Two of those four are listed in critical condition, the other two are listed in serious but non-life threatening condition,” said Pegg.
Paramedics say they transported an adult female to a nearby hospital in life-threatening condition while a man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Soot can be seen from the affected fifth floor unit going up five floors on the exterior of the building.
An investigation will determine the cause of the blaze.
“TCHC has worked with each impacted household to support them with transportation to family or friends where they can stay temporarily or by providing hotel accommodation,” said Toronto Community Housing in a statement Sunday.
“We will continue to work with tenants throughout the remainder of the weekend to determine their short term needs as we wait for a complete assessment of the damage and the time to return to their units. Displacement is primarily affecting households on the fifth floor of the building. All other tenants were able to return home in the evening of February 25.”
