1 woman critically injured in Etobicoke house fire, 3 officers sent to hospital

A woman is in critical condition after being rescued from a 2-alarm house fire in Etobicoke on Sunday afternoon.

Toronto Fire Services were called to a home on Upper Humber Drive, near Finch Avenue West and Highway 427, just after 12:30 p.m. Fire officials said smoke and flames could be seen several kilometres away as they made their way to the blaze.

Toronto police were first on the scene and several of them rushed into the burning home after receiving reports that children may have been trapped inside the residence.

“The first arriving first responders were members of the Toronto Police Service. They bravely went inside without the personal protective equipment our staff have to do the best search they could do knowing of the multiple reports of children inside,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop in an afternoon update.

It was later confirmed that no children were in the home. Three officers were later taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation and released.

Fire crews did find a woman during their search of the home. She was brought out without any vital signs and paramedics transported her to the hospital where she was revived but was listed in life-threatening condition.

“We had numerous phone calls and numerous reports of no less than two children in the house at the time. We’re certain at this point that the only person in the house at the time was the person that the firefighters found,” said Jessop.

A woman who identified herself as the aunt of the homeowner tells CityNews the woman fighting for her life in hospital is the homeowner’s daughter. She says the homeowners are currently away on a trip.

An investigation is underway to determine the origin and cause of the blaze.

“Like any investigation, the assessment of the Ontario Fire Code will come into effect as is where did the fire start, how did it start and what led to the circumstances early this afternoon for a fire to develop and accelerate that fast,” said Jessop.

Jessop said given the frigid temperatures, the conditions firefighters faced when they arrived were “extreme.”

“It was a severe fire,” he explained. “The second floor absolutely was fully involved with flame and the reports I have from the incoming crews was the flames were rolling outside the window, it had already flashed over upon their arrival.”

“We deal with the extremes in the winter and the extremes in the summer. The conditions inside this house certainly were severe for our crews …a number of helmets were melted, visors were melted.”