A man in his 40s is dead after he was pulled from the basement of a burning house in the city’s Parkdale neighbourhood on Saturday afternoon.

Police said they were called to a semi-detached home at 1259 King Street West at 2:36 p.m. for a report of smoke coming from a basement.

Firefighters pulled a man from the basement during their initial sweep of the structure.

Paramedics said CPR was performed and the victim was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital in life-threatening condition.

The fire was put out shortly after 3 p.m., police said. Just before 9 p.m., police said the man succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said the fire marshal has been called to investigate the blaze.

Homes on either side of the blaze were evacuated and King Street West was closed in both directions between Dufferin Street and Cowan Avenue.