1 dead after Toronto encampment fire near Don Valley

Toronto Fire Services says one person has died inside an encampment that caught on fire in the Don Valley area.

Toronto Fire Services says one person has died inside an encampment that caught on fire in the Don Valley area.

Fire Chief Jim Jessop said firefighters were called to Credit Union Drive, near the Don Valley Parkway and Eglinton Avenue, for reports of a fire.

Crews found a significant fire with flames of up to 30 to 40 feet in the air reported around an encampment structure in the valley, Jessop said.

There were also a number of propane tanks and other compressed gas cylinders that were exploding.

“These fires are certainly a risk to the first responders. There is no question we have been dealing with these fires for a number of years in the city,” Jessop said.

“Every time our firefighters attend one of these, when you have fully involved structures and compressed gas cylinders and propane tanks exploding, there is serious risk to our first responders.”

Additional crews were called but the fire was quickly put out.

During the primary search, Jessop said they found one person dead inside the structure.