One man is dead following a fire at an apartment building in King West Village early this morning, Toronto paramedics confirm.
It happened on Shaw Street, near King Street West, shortly after 3 a.m.
Toronto Fire Services Platoon Chief Kevin Shaw told CP24 that the fire broke out in a unit on the second floor of an apartment building located at 24 Shaw Street.
When fire crews arrived at the unit where it is believed the fire began, a man was found collapsed by the door.
“Crews arrived. There wasn’t any smoke showing initially. (They) proceeded to the second floor, where they were directed to apartment 215 and upon entry into the building, they located a victim that had apparently collapsed by the door," Shaw said at the scene.
"The crews brought him out immediately. They worked on him, tried to revive him. It was unsuccessful.”
Paramedics say the victim, who is believed to be 73 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Office of the Fire Marshal wrapped up their on-scene investigation of the fire and found that the blaze was caused by a cigarette that wasn't properly disposed of.
The fire originated on a living room couch, the OFM confirmed.
The fire did not spread to other units and no other injuries were reported.
TTC buses were brought in to shelter the other occupants of the building who were evacuated.
Shaw said all residents have been allowed to return to their units.
At the height of the fire, 12 trucks and 45 firefighters were on scene and the fire was knocked down at around 3:25 a.m.
Police have not released the name of the deceased.
