Woman found on fire inside structure in Etobicoke, police treating fire as suspicious

Toronto police are treating a fire that sent a woman to hospital with life-threatening injuries in south Etobicoke as suspicious.

Police were called to the area of Lake Shore Boulevard West and Eighth Street near Islington Avenue around 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday for reports of a dispute between a male and female.

While on scene, they found the structure engulfed in fire and a woman on fire inside the structure, which police referred to as a tent. However, Toronto Fire said it was a wooden structure.

The woman, believed to be in her 50s, was rushed to hospital.

A police officer suffered minor injuries while pulling the woman out from the structure, and was also taken to hospital for treatment. The police officer has since been released.

Toronto police are searching for a woman who was seen walking away from the area around the time of the incident. They are looking to speak to her to find out her involvement in the incident and whether she has any information.

The structure is located behind an abandoned building at 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

An inspector from Toronto police’s 22 Division said there have been a number of people squatting in the building and the laneway next to it, but when it comes to criminality, he said there has been nothing of this magnitude.

A resident who lives in the area told CityNews the building has been abandoned for years.

“I’m from the neighbourhood, I’ve lived here for 14 years. This building here on the corner has been a sore spot for a long time. It’s been vacant, there’s no activity in there for at least 10 years that I know of,” she said.

Police also looking for more information on the initial dispute and how it may be connected to the fire.