Elderly man dies in hospital after fire at North York retirement home: police

Toronto Fire officials provide an update on a fatal fire at a retirement home near Bathurst and Finch.

An elderly man has died in hospital after a fire at a retirement home in North York, Toronto police say.

The fire broke out at a retirement residence on Finch Avenue West, near Bathurst Street, shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Toronto Fire told CP24 that a fire was located on the fourth floor of the building and one person was rescued from a unit on the floor.

The fire was extinguished and did not spread beyond the unit of origin, officials said.

Toronto paramedics said an elderly man was transported to hospital in critical condition. Police later confirmed that the man, who is believed to be in his 80s, died of his injuries.

Acting Division Commander Robert Hewson told reporters Monday that 21 trucks responded to the fire. He said the blaze, which was contained to the living area of the unit, was extinguished very quickly.

Hewson noted that crews did not need to evacuate the building as there were very light smoke conditions inside.

A Toronto Fire investigator is probing the cause, origin, and circumstances surrounding the blaze.

The Office of the Fire Marshal will also be investigating the deadly blaze.