Toronto fire is investigating after an Etobicoke home was engulfed in flames less than a week after police received a call for signs of arson at the address.
Fire crews responded to 226 Beta St., in the area of Evans Ave. and Brown’s Line, at around 3:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
“The flames were through the roof, going at least 30 or 40 feet high,” said Toronto fire Capt. Michael Westwood. “They began to burn the houses on either side because they were so scalding, there was so much heat.”
Toronto police Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook said they received multiple calls of flames seen at the home as well as trees ablaze in the yard.
A 97-year-old woman was also rescued by Toronto fire from her home next door. Toronto Paramedics said she was treated on-scene with oxygen.
The fire, Westwood said, was a two-alarm fire, requiring 12 fire trucks and 45 firefighters. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control, but in the process, the house’s walls collapsed and its roof came down, he said.
“It’s just a shell left now,” said Westwood said, who called the house, which was under construction, “gutted.”
The fire, which caused substantial damage to the basement and second floor, was burning so hot that it began melting parts of the home, he said.
Toronto police evacuated neighbouring homes, said Douglas-Cook, adding the fire caused moderate damage at 224 and 228 Beta St.
Wires were down in the area. Streets were closed, and the TTC sent buses for residents to shelter in until it was safe for them to return to their homes.
Police received a report of arson at 226 Beta St. only six days earlier, on Oct. 25, Douglas-Cook said. A caller, who said they were the homeowner, said, “I can smell gas” and what appeared to be scorch marks on the floor, she said.
While the house wasn’t fully engulfed in flames, the homeowner said he saw evidence of a fire in the basement and signs that someone had possibly been there. There was no significant damage, just “scorch marks in the basement, at different parts of the basement,” and noticeable attempts of arson, Douglas-Cook said.
“It’s obviously unusual for this to happen days apart,” she said.
There are currently no possible suspects or motives, she said.
Renovations started at the house, a bungalow built during the 1950s, a year and a half ago.
“There are multiple ways a fire can start,” said Westwood. “It’s important for everybody to have working fire alarms and carbon monoxide alarms to have that early protection and warning to get out.”
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