A 71-year-old man is dead following a fire at an apartment building for seniors in Brampton on Sunday morning.

It happened at a four-storey building on McHardy Place, near Main Street and Queen Street West, shortly after 6 a.m.

Brampton Fire Platoon Chief Paul Bebbington told CP24 at the scene that the fire broke out inside a unit on the fourth floor of the building.

“It was confined to the bedroom of the unit. One patient was located and removed from the building,” he said, adding that the person was rushed to hospital without vital signs and was later pronounced dead.

Police have not yet released the name of the victim.

One other resident of the building sustained injuries during the evacuation and was taken to hospital for treatment.

“Apparently it was a slip and fall injury,” Bebbington said. “A firefighter was also transported to hospital with minor injuries to his hand.”

Peel Paramedics told CP24 that multiple other people were assessed on scene.

The entire building was evacuated this morning but some residents have been permitted to return to their units.

“The fourth floor remains evacuated. The people that live on the fourth floor are over at the community centre at the curling club right now just staying warm,” Bebbington noted.

Staff members from the City of Brampton’s emergency management office are on scene assisting displaced residents.

When asked when residents of the fourth floor will be allowed to return home, Bebbington said it could be “quite a while.”

Peel Police Const. Mark Fisher said emergency officials will likely be on scene for the rest of the day.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined but Peel Regional Police, Brampton Fire and the Office of the Fire Marshal will be investigating.

Speaking to CP24 Sunday morning, one area resident said the victim had lived in the building for many years.

“He helped everybody," the man said at the scene Sunday. 

“He will be missed in McHardy Court.”