Fire rips through 3 houses in Toronto’s downtown core, 1 firefighter injured

A firefighter is in hospital after a blaze broke out at three homes near Bathurst St. and Richmond St. West on Monday night. CP24’s Courtney Heels reports.

Crews remain at the scene of a fire that tore through three homes in Toronto’s downtown core overnight and sent one firefighter to hospital.

Toronto Fire Services was first called to the blaze, which broke out at a residence on Bathurst Street near Richmond Street West, at around 10:45 p.m. on Monday night.

Firefighters began an aerial attack and at one point, the roof of one of the affected homes collapsed, officials said.

Paramedics told CP24 that an adult was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Toronto Fire Services later confirmed that the patient was a firefighter who suffered minor injuries and has since been released from the hospital.

All occupants inside the residences self-evacuated but a dog was rescued from one of the houses and has now been reunited with its owners.

A fire investigator and the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) are expected to probe the cause, origin, and circumstances surrounding the blaze.

The fire has been extinguished but crews remain on scene to douse hot spots.

The southbound lanes of Bathurst Street have reopened but the northbound lanes remain closed this morning.

Toronto police said officers are on scene this morning and firefighters are expected to remain in the area for a few days to monitor flare-ups.

“Once the fire and scene are deemed safe, our forensics officers will also be attending,” police said in an email to CP24.

The fire comes less than 24 hours after two other firefighters were injured while battling a blaze at a home in Cabbagetown.

Their injuries were believed to be minor in nature, officials said Monday.