CANADA: Four hospitalised after apartment fire, Toronto

Four people have been transported to hospital following a two-alarm fire at an apartment building near the Beach neighbourhood Monday night.

Toronto police tweeted about reports of a fire, just after 8 p.m. in the area of Queen Street East and Lee Avenues.

Toronto paramedics said that two people were transported to hospital in serious, but non-life threatening condition. Two others were sent with minor injuries.

Stephen Powell, Toronto fire district chief, told the Star that the fire broke out in one of the units of the building causing smoke to spread throughout the building.

Powell said “a number of residents” were evacuated with some currently being sheltered in TTC buses and streetcars. “The main body of the fire has been knocked down,” Powell said. ­

Dale Brazao, a local resident and former Toronto Star reporter, was out on his evening walk when he stumbled upon the scene of the fire.

“I only live about two blocks away … while passing by I saw a ton of thick, black smoke billowing out of the entrance to the building and firefighters taking two people out through the front door,” Brazao said.

Toronto police said to expect delays as Queen Street East remains closed between Hambly and Wheeler Avenues.

Powell said the investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing.

Source: Toronto Star