12 people sent to hospital after Toronto high-rise fire Saturday morning

A fire in a Toronto high-rise apartment building has sent 12 people to hospital Saturday morning, including at least one person in critical condition. 

Fire crews were called about the fire in a building at 275 Bleeker Street just after 10:30 a.m., said Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop.  

When they arrived, firefighters encountered heavy flames and smoke on an upper floor of the building. 

Jessop said it took firefighters quite some time to find the scene of fire before knocking it down. The heat was so intense that it melted some firefighters' helmets, Jessop said. 

Several people needed to be rescued from the building using aerial ladders outside the building. 

As of Saturday afternoon, twelve people had been taken to hospital as a result of the fire, including five police officers who were being treated for smoke inhalation, Jessop said. 

A spokesperson for Toronto Paramedic Services said the patients injuries ranged from non-life threatening to critical. 

Paramedics have also set up a triage station at the scene where they're monitoring approximately 20 people. 

Jessop said the three-alarm fire required significant resources. 

"Not only were we fighting the fire, we were performing multiple exterior rescues as well as interior rescues while at the same time starting to ventilate smoke, and then concurrently responding to numerous 911 calls from people that were in their units where smoke was migrating in," he said. 

TTC buses have been brought in for residents who've been displaced by the fire while other residents are being asked to shelter in place while fire crews ventilate smoke from the building, Jessop said.

Mayor attends scene, says displaced tenants will get help 

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow visited the scene Saturday afternoon alongside Toronto Centre Coun. Chris Moise, where she thanked first responders for their efforts. 

"I want to thanks the emergency crews, the paramedics, the firefighters, and police all working together as a team, aggressively attacking the fire and transporting people to the hospital," she said. 

"I just want to give a load of gratitude to all of them."

Chow said Toronto Community Housing will be providing housing and food for any residents displaced by the fire.