Baby dead after Scarborough house fire, man in custody, Toronto police say
4 taken to hospital, 38-year-old man suffered self-inflicted critical injuries and was arrested
An eight-month old baby has died in hospital after a Scarborough house fire on Saturday, Toronto police say.
Three other people were found injured in the home as well, according to Duty Insp. Saleem Husain. The three people are a four-year-old child, a woman in her 70s and a 38-year-old man.
Husain said the 38-year-old man suffered self-inflicted critical injuries and is in custody in hospital, while the four-year-old boy suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation. The woman in her 70s has injuries unrelated to the fire and suffered a medical episode. Both the boy and woman are recovering, police added.
Police initially said the woman in her 70s was a man but issued an update on X later to correct the information.
All four, including the critically injured baby, were removed from the home and taken to hospital.
The baby was pronounced dead in hospital despite "heroic" efforts from police, paramedics, firefighters and doctors and nurses at the hospital to save the baby's life, Husain said.
Police, firefighters and paramedics were called to the house near Finch Avenue and Brimley Road around 11:15 a.m. The fire is now out.
"We understand that this is a very tragic event and will affect the community and the family involved," Husain told reporters.
"We're providing resources to ensure that we can provide them support that they're going to need in the coming future."
The baby and three injured people are family members but police declined to comment on the nature of their relationship.
Toronto police's homicide unit, Toronto Fire Services and Ontario's Office of the Fire Marshal are investigating the incident.