Crews investigate fatal fire at Toronto seniors’ residence

CP24’s Courtney Heels has the latest on the investigation into a building fire at Yonge St. and Carlton St. that left one person dead.

A fire at a residence for seniors in Toronto’s downtown core has left one person dead, officials say.

The blaze broke out at high-rise building at Yonge and Carlton streets shortly before 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Fire Chief Jim Jessop told reporters on Monday that a fire was found in a unit on the eighth floor.

Crews had to force their way into the apartment and were met with extreme heat and heavy black smoke when they entered, he said.

Following a primary search, firefighters located one occupant in their bed.

The victim, who was found without vital signs, was transported to the care of paramedics where they were subsequently pronounced dead, the fire chief added.

“I want to offer our deepest condolences to all of those impacted by this fatal fire last night,” Jessop said.

The fire has now been knocked down and the scene is being held for an investigation.

Victim lived in building, says friend

Two residents of this large supportive housing building told CTV News Toronto That a man died in the fire.

Ross Dankwardg says he was a senior who went by the name “Kassam.”

He says they would sometimes go to College Park to enjoy the weather and were friends for the past three years.

Dankwardg says the man who died was a nice guy, who never bothered anyone and “did his own thing.”

‘Deeply saddened’

Many who live at 423 Yonge St. are elderly and vulnerable.

Some say they had difficulty understanding the instructions over the PA system. For others, the fire created anxiety and concern after several fire trucks and ambulances showed up at their home.

In a written statement provided to CTV News Toronto, Toronto Seniors Housing Corp. (TSHC) said it is aware of a fire that broke out at a building it manages at 423 Yonge St. on Sunday night and sends its “sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the victim.”

“We are grateful to Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Paramedic Services, and the Toronto Police Service who responded quickly. We are cooperating fully with emergency services as they conduct their investigation,” said TSHC, which provides subsidized rental housing in a state of good repair for approximately 15,000 low- and moderate-income seniors in 83 buildings across the city as well as access to services and supports.

The corporation went on to say that the fire was contained to a single unit with no other tenants displaced at this time, adding that any questions about the investigation should be directed to Toronto Fire Services.

“Staff are on site supporting tenants. The safety and well‑being of our tenants and staff remain our top priority,” it said.

Toronto Community Housing owns the buildings TSHC operates.

LOFT Community Services, one of the building’s service providers , said it is “is deeply saddened by the tragic fire at a Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation building near Yonge and Carlton.”

Investigation underway

Investigators with Toronto Fire have been called in to probe the cause, origin, and circumstances surrounding the deadly blaze.

Toronto police and the Office of the Fire Marshal have also been notified.

It is too early to tell whether there were working smoke detectors in the unit, Jessop said.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Beth Macdonell