Man in his 80s dies in hospital after house fire in Scarborough
Toronto Fire Services says crews found man on main floor of house but he died of his injuries
A man in his 80s has died after a house fire in Scarborough on Wednesday, Toronto police say.
The fire broke out in the rear of a house in the area of Lawrence Avenue E. and Portsmouth Drive in Toronto's Port Union neighbourhood. Toronto fire crews were called to the scene of a fire at 5:45 p.m.
Robert Hewson, acting commander for Toronto Fire Services, said fire crews were met with heavy smoke, searched the premises and rescued one person from the main floor of the house.
"It was an aggressive fire. Crews went in and did a very rapid search, and unfortunately, found the occupant right away," Hewson told reporters near the scene.
Toronto paramedics took the man to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The fire gutted the attic and did severe damage to the house, he added.
Toronto police, Toronto fire investigators and Ontario's Office of the Fire Marshal will investigate the origin, cause and circumstances of the fire.