A 69-year-old man has died following a major early-morning fire that spread from three burning vehicles to two homes in Richmond Hill on Wednesday.
Emergency crews were called to Crosby Avenue, between Newkirk Road and Bayview Avenue, at approximately 3 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find three vehicles ablaze between two residences, both of which were engulfed in flames.
Some residents escaped on their own, while others were trapped inside and required rescue. The burning vehicles also blocked several entrances, making it difficult for firefighters to access the homes.
York Regional Police said firefighters found a 69-year-old man in the basement of one residence and brought him outside with no vital signs. He was pronounced dead at approximately 6 a.m. Both homes were evacuated, and no other injuries have been reported.
Richmond Hill Fire Chief Tom Rayburn described the scene as particularly chaotic and challenging for emergency responders. Although the vehicles sustained extensive damage, there is currently no indication that any were electric.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigators have not determined whether it was suspicious. The Office of the Fire Marshal is assisting with the investigation.