North York house fire kills elderly man
Male in his 70s pronounced dead at the scene
An elderly man has been killed during a house fire in North York that left the home engulfed in flames.
Toronto paramedics confirmed the man in his 70s was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman in her 30s was also treated for minor smoke inhalation but was not sent to hospital.
The two-alarm fire took place at 19 Vinci Crescent, which is east of Wilson Avenue and Allen Road. Toronto Fire Services say they received a call at 3:37 p.m about a house fire, which became a two-alarm blaze just five minutes later.
Callers said they saw black smoke billowing from the rear of the building with someone possibly inside. One person was pulled from the house at 4:02 p.m. and sent to hospital.
Firefighters had to break some windows and open up the roof to aid with visibility and clear the smoke.
Fire officials said they believe the fire started in the basement at the front of the home.
Toronto police said in a tweet that Faywood Boulevard and Vinci Crescent have been closed due to the blaze.
Motorists are advised to consider alternate routes to avoid the area.