A mother and son are dead after a fire ripped through the basement of a west end Toronto home Wednesday night.
Fire crews were called to a home on Gladstone Avenue near Shanly Street, just off Dufferin Street, around 7 p.m.
“Upon arrival our crews were met with a very difficult and deep seated basement fire, we had a number of firefighters overcome by the heat,” said acting fire chief Jim Jessop.
Both victims were pulled from the two-alarm blaze and the woman in her 90s was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was taken by paramedics to a trauma centre in life-threatening condition where he succumbed to his injuries.
Officials say the fire started in the basement and burned through the floors spreading to the rest of the home.
All of the firefighters who were overcome by the heat have been treated and released.
The Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified to assist in the investigation into the origin and cause of the fire.
On behalf of @Toronto_Fire, I extend deepest condolences to the family, friends and all those impacted by the tragic fatal fire on Gladstone Ave. The investigation into this terrible fire will take place in collaboration with @ONFireMarshal and @TorontoPolice
— Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) January 20, 2022