Woman dead, several others injured in Toronto basement fire

One woman is dead, and others are injured, one critically, following an early-morning residential fire in Toronto’s Dufferin Grove neighbourhood.

Toronto Fire Services Chief Matthew Pegg said crews were notified of a one-alarm residential fire at 140 Rusholme Road near College Street and Dufferin Street shortly after midnight.

Officials initially located a man and a woman inside the home. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, the Toronto Police Service said, and the man was rushed to a trauma centre, where he remains in critical condition.

Toronto Paramedic Services tell CityNews three other residents were treated for minor injuries.

Pegg said investigators will work with the Toronto Police Service and Ontario Fire Marshal to determine the cause of the fire.

Toronto’s homicide unit has been made aware of the incident, and investigators are awaiting autopsy results. A source tells 680News Radio that TFS officials were dispatched to the home for an intentionally set fire.

“All unexplained or sudden deaths are treated as suspicious until we know the cause of death and establish the full circumstances,” a Toronto Police Service spokesperson said.