Firefighter critically injured while battling 4-alarm blaze in Etobicoke

A firefighter was critically injured while responding to a four-alarm blaze at a townhouse in Etobicoke on Thursday evening.

Around 6:15 p.m., crews got a call about the fire on Lake Shore Boulevard West, near Park Lawn Road.

Officials said the fire started on the third floor and spread to the roof and adjoining units.

At the height of the blaze, as many as 46 fire trucks were on the scene.

The injured firefighter was rushed to nearby St. Joseph’s hospital in critical condition.

Fire chief Matthew Pegg said the firefighter, identified only as a district chief, was not directly injured in the course of fighting the fire.

“Certainly no indication of trauma related to the fire,” said Pegg. “It appears he sustained some type of medical event while operating on scene.”

The firefighter’s condition has been upgraded to stable.

Homes in the area were evacuated and a TTC bus was brought in to shelter residents.

On Friday morning, four units were still deemed unsafe and the occupants were not allowed to return home.

There was no immediate word of any other injuries however one man who lives in one of the two townhomes affected by the fire told CityNews his pets needed to be rescued.

“I had two dogs and a couple cats in there. Luckily they pulled out my dog but I’m still missing my cat,” said Steve Surgener. “One of my neighbours kicked in the door and pulled one dog out and the other one was stuck in the fire. After the fire was out, they found her hiding in the basement and she’s at the vet now, being treated.”

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