1/30/2011 4:17:59 PM

January 24, 2011

Apartment fire claims the life of an elderly male

City of Toronto Fire Services responded just after 6:30 a.m. today to a fire within a seventh floor apartment. The 10 Shallmar Blvd. unit was home to an elderly couple.

The brief 911 call originated from within the unit before the caller dropped the phone to seek shelter in the hallway. The dispatcher could hear working smoke alarms in the background during the call.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke on the seventh floor and quickly entered the burning unit. Inside, they found an 85-year-old male already deceased and his 74-year-old wife suffering from severe smoke inhalation. The woman was brought down to the ground floor and transported by Toronto Emergency Medical Services to Toronto Sunnybrook Hospital.

Firefighting activities continued until the majority of fire was knocked down at 6:58 a.m.

This two-alarm fire saw 13 fire apparatuses attend.

Due to the fatality, the Ontario Fire Marshal has been called to investigate the cause.

Toronto Fire Services would like to remind residents of Toronto to maintain working smoke alarms and ensure batteries are replaced when you change your clocks forward or back.

“Knowing what to do in the case of fire may save your life,” said Toronto Fire Chief William Stewart. “Talk to family, friends, neighbours and building supervisory staff about your special needs in an emergency.”

More fire safety information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/fire/prevention.