16 units responded to fire at 5:30am at 1457 Kingston Road
Five Birch Cliff residents are in hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after a two-alarm fire at an apartment building at 1457 Kingston Road, between Warden and Manderly.
The fire began at approximately 5:30am in the bedroom of a ground floor unit and quickly spread throughout the building, prompting panicked phone calls to 911, said District Fire Chief John Zovak.
“There were heavy fire conditions on the first floor,” Zovak said. “One of the units was fully involved The occupants of the building on the second and third floors required rescue. We received several calls from occupants about heavy smoke in the hallways.”
The fire started on the ground floor and spread to the second and third
When firefighters arrived, Zovak said they deployed ladders to back of the building to rescue residents of the second and third floors. The ladders weren’t used, however, as firefighters were able to clear a safe pathway to escort residents out the doors.
Injuries said to be “minor”
Zovak said to his knowledge injuries to the five people in hospital are not serious.
The TTC provided buses for shelter for evacuees due to the frigid weather. Zovak says they will try to return occupants to the building as quickly as possible but the building has experienced heavy smoke damage.
Inside the apartment where the fire began
Toronto Fire despatched 16 units to the fire, which closed down Kingston Road and forced traffic to be rerouted north to Freeman Avenue.
The Toronto Fire Marshall’s office is investigating the cause of the fire, which is not known at this time.
More photos below:
Inside the apartment where the fire broke out
