A house fire in North York has left a 74-year-old man and his dog dead on Thursday evening, according to Toronto police.
Emergency crews responded around 7:05 p.m. to reports of smoke coming from a semi-detached home near Pellatt Avenue and Academy Road. Firefighters entered the residence, put out the flames, and discovered the man and the dog inside.
Officials said the fire began in the basement, and the man was found near the back door. He was removed from the home without vital signs and transported to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The dog could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene.
An adult woman, not directly involved in the fire, was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The fire was contained to the home and did not spread to nearby properties. Authorities confirmed that smoke alarms in the house were functioning at the time.
Neighbours indicated that a couple lived at the residence, though the woman was not home during the incident.
Investigators do not currently consider the fire suspicious, but Toronto Fire and the Office of the Fire Marshal are continuing to examine the cause.