A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a fire outside a downtown Toronto church early Friday morning. Officials say a suspect has been charged with arson in connection with the incident.
Toronto Fire Services responded to a call just after 6 a.m. on Charles Street East, near Yonge Street, where they found debris burning in front of the church. Initially reported as a garbage fire, the situation quickly escalated. Toronto police later stated that the suspect set a tent and mattress on fire, then added other items to fuel the flames. The man had to be rescued from the tent.
Paramedics first reported the man’s injuries as serious but non-life-threatening, but police later confirmed they had worsened to life-threatening. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
A 36-year-old man, identified as Loewen Wolfe from Toronto, was arrested near the scene. He faces multiple charges, including arson causing bodily harm, arson endangering life, and mischief. Wolfe was also charged with failure to comply with probation. He appeared in bail court on Friday. The charges have not been proven in court.
Update – The injured man, identified as 51-year-old Keith Appleby, has died three days later. The suspect his now facing an additional first-degree murder charge.