Fire officials say it is too early to tell what caused a fatal house fire Friday morning that claimed the life of a man and woman in East York.
Scott Evendon, of the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal, told CP24 Friday afternoon that the investigation into the cause of the fire is still in its early stages.
"We're looking at the fire patterns and analyzing those patterns," Evendon said.
It's believed the blaze started on the main floor of the Bastedo Avenue duplex.
Fire Chief Bill Stewart was at the scene this morning and described it as "a very hot fire," which was so intense that a neighbouring home sustained minor damage.
Fire officials said the Bastedo Avenue home is split into two suites. The top-floor occupant escaped without injury.
Two people, a 40-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman, were found near the front door on the main floor before they were pulled from the semi-detached home. Emergency responders immediately began performing CPR but to no avail.
The man died of his injuries at the scene. Though the woman was revived and rushed to hospital, she later succumbed to her injuries.
While the names of the victims have not been officially released by police, friends and coworkers have identified the deceased as Adam Smoke andMelody George.
Firefighters say they did not hear a fire alarm when they entered the burning home on Bastedo Avenue, near Danforth and Coxwell avenues, shortly before 3:30 a.m., Stewart told CP24.
Because it appears there were no working smoke detectors in the home, Stewart is reminding people, including landlords, to ensure fire alarms are always in proper working order.
Bastedo Avenue remains closed as the investigation continues.
