An apartment fire in Toronto sent four people to hospital, according to CBC News. Toronto paramedics said they transported a male and a female adult along with a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old, and Toronto Fire said the adult man suffered second-degree burns and was being admitted, though everyone is expected to survive.
Fire officials stopped short of formally labeling a cause but said e-bike batteries were a contributor to how significant the fire became, CBC reported. According to the account, the batteries were compromised inside and then outside the unit, which would have added to the intense burn.
Toronto Fire said it will be investigating and that, at this time, it does not see anything suspicious, according to CBC News. The department relayed those early findings as crews worked to bring the scene under control.
The blaze charred and engulfed an entire room as well as the balcony, CBC reported, with metal debris seen falling from the building. Toronto Fire said that, surprisingly, the interiors of the surrounding units were okay.
A neighbor told CBC News he was relieved that everyone was expected to survive, describing it as a shocking scene. He recounted coming around to the back of the building to see the charred room and balcony before falling debris forced onlookers to move to the front so crews could do their work.