The Toronto Fire Department is currently in defensive mode extinguishing a 2-alarm fire on residential Patricia Ave. in the area of Bathurst St/SteelesAve W. Crews were dispatched just after 6am. One firefighter was injured and taken to hospital. #Toronto
— Toronto Fire Services (@Toronto_Fire) August 15, 2022
Toronto paramedics said they took a patient with serious but non-life threatening injuries to a local hospital.
The fire broke out around 6:10 am. in a large, vacant house-under-construction on Patricia Avenue, near Steeles Avenue West and Bathurst Street.
Thick smoke could be seen from the second floor.
“Initially, arriving crews encountered heavy flame and smoke visible on the alpha side as well as through the roof,” Squadron Leader General Godfrey Greaves told CP24.
“They were able to move in quickly for fire suppression activities and carry out the initial investigation. The situation was then upgraded to a second alarm to accommodate additional fire crews. At this time all crews are still on scene and we are still actively fighting the fire.”
Greaves said “exposure lines” have also been put in place to protect neighboring homes due to “collapse concerns”, adding that they “do not foresee any problems with these properties”.
He also said some crews had to be moved to neighboring properties to fight the fire from the back of the house as the back yard is quite small.
The Toronto Fire Department is currently in defensive mode extinguishing a 2-alarm fire on residential Patricia Ave. in the area of Bathurst St/SteelesAve W. Crews were dispatched just after 6am. One firefighter was injured and taken to hospital. #Toronto
— Toronto Fire Services (@Toronto_Fire) August 15, 2022
No one was home and no injuries were initially reported, Toronto Fire said.
Greaves said once the fire is contained, crews will proceed with overhaul and then work with investigators to determine the cause, origin and circumstances.
