Three dead, 15 injured in blaze at TCH seniors’ building

The Ontario fire marshal’s office continues to investigate after three people were killed and at least 15 others were taken to hospital after a two-alarm blaze at a seniors’ Toronto Community Housing building in Scarborough on Friday.

Fire crews were called to the scene at 1315 Neilson Road, near Finch Avenue east and Morningside Avenue around 3:30 p.m.

Multiple people had to be rescued from the building and heavy smoke was visible from the fifth floor.

Four people were rushed to hospital without vital signs. Three of them have since died.

After returning from Ottawa late Friday night, Mayor John Tory visited the site of the blaze to offer his condolences to those affected by the fire.

Tory said he went up to the fifth floor where the fire started, and spoke with fire officials about a possible cause.

“Nobody is really speculating on that as yet but you could see the fire was confined to a very small area where some furniture had caught on fire and the rugs were burned,” Tory said. “It was very intense in a very small area but produced a lot of smoke.”

TTC buses were called to the scene to help shelter those displaced by the fire.

Tory praised the work done by emergency services, those from the housing corporation and the Red Cross who were on hand to help.

“They really did a magnificent job looking after those who were dislocated by the fire and providing some comfort to those who had victims in the fire,” Tory said.

Officials are expected to provide an update on the investigation on Saturday.