One dead after ‘very complex’ afternoon fire in the west end

One person is dead after an afternoon fire in the west end on Wednesday.

Toronto police said they were called to Bloor Street West and Dundas Street West just after 2 p.m. for reports of a fire on the second floor of a two storey building.

Initial reports stated that there were no injuries and that the building was vacant, however, Toronto Fire later said that one person had been removed through a window on the second floor and pronounced dead.

That individual was the only person located inside the building, Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop said at an evening media briefing.

He said he could not comment on where the victim’s body is until police and the coroner arrived.

“This was a very complex fire with a very complex building,” he said.

Jessop said crews were on scene ventilating and searching for hot spots to make sure the fire was completely extinguished.

The fire service’s investigation division was en route to the scene as of 4 p.m. Police, the Ontario fire marshal’s office and the coroner’s office were also called to assist.

“The status of the building, both including its occupancy at the time and any fire life safety systems will form part of the investigation,” Jessop said.

Westbound Bloor Street West closed at Perth Avenue and northbound Dundas Street West closed at Boustead Avenue as crews fought the fire.

The TTC rerouted streetcar service “due to fire hoses,” according to police. Full service returned as of 5 p.m.

All roads have reopened as of 4:45 p.m., police said.

Last week, a woman died in a two-alarm house fire in Brampton. Two people, including a child, suffered injuries.

A house fire in Waterloo on Monday left a 54-year-old woman dead and two men with injuries.