1 man dead, 1 woman in hospital after large house fire in Scarborough

Toronto Fire Services says one man has died after being pulled from a large house fire in Scarborough early Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews were called to a home at 2 Allanford Road, near Birchmount Road and Highway 401 just after 2:30 a.m.

“Our crews responded and were met with heavy smoke and flames showing from the house,” John Brunton, acting platoon chief for Toronto Fire Services, told reporters on Wednesday.

Paramedics have confirmed that an 80-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman were located and rescued from the home during a search. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries.

The man was pronounced deceased upon arrival and the woman remains in critical condition.

Fire crews also brought out a third person who was treated at the scene. They say four other individuals self-extricated themselves from the home.

“Overall, we had seven individuals in the structure, four of which got out on their own, and three of which we brought out ourselves,” Brunton said. “One of our staff received minor burns during the incident, he was treated on scene and returned to work.”

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire. Brunton said the situation has been turned over to the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office and the Toronto Fire investigation team.

At least four fires were reported across the city within a 12-hour period. Brunton is reminding Torontonians about the importance of fire safety during the holidays.

“It’s a wonderful season,” Brunton said. “But while enjoying the season, don’t forget the basics. Don’t forget to make sure that you never leave your stove on unattended … Don’t leave candles burning unattended. If you’re going to be drinking and cooking and so forth, make sure somebody is sober-minded to be able to care for what you’re doing at that time.”

“Enjoy yourself by all means, it’s a wonderful time of year, but please be careful and recognize that these things are happening on a regular basis,” he added.