A man in his 70s is dead after a fire broke out at a townhouse in Markham on Thursday.
Markham fire crews rushed to the residence fire in the area of Pillar Rock Crescent and Hazelton Avenue, north of Victoria Square Boulevard and Major Mackenzie Drive East.
Markham Fire and Emergency Services Chief Chris Nearing said crews encountered a “large volume” of flames in the garage that spread into the rest of the home.
Viewer video shared with CP24 shows heavy flames and thick black smoke billowing out of the garage where a vehicle is on fire. Neighbours are also heard telling a firefighter that a man was still inside the home.
Nearing said a woman from the home was able to get out after being alerted by a smoke alarm. He added that the woman had critical injuries and was taken to the hospital.
“She also reported to our crews that there was another resident of the home still inside. Crews made an aggressive interior attack,” the chief said.
Firefighters located the resident and pulled him out of the burning home. However, Nearing said the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Neighbouring homes were also evacuated. Residents told CTV News Toronto they saw a “ball of fire” from the garage and that they could feel the heat inside their homes.
The cause, origin, and circumstances of the fire are unknown. Fire officials said the vehicle that was incinerated is not an electric vehicle.
The Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified and will attend the scene.
