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A man has died following a fire that destroyed two homes and damaged several vehicles in Richmond Hill early Wednesday morning.
Fire crews described the situation as “chaotic,” with three cars completely engulfed in flames between the two burning houses, they told reporters on Wednesday.
The fire broke out on Crosby Avenue between Newkirk Road and Bayview Avenue around 3 a. m., according to York Regional Police. A man was discovered unresponsive and taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police reported.
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The disarray of the scene made it difficult for firefighters to manage the blaze, said Richmond Hill Fire Chief Tom Raeburn at a morning press briefing.
Crews were still working on extinguishing hot spots in one of the homes when a man was rescued from a basement window, Raeburn explained. Several other residents managed to escape by themselves.
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Accessing the entrances of the houses was tough because some burning vehicles were blocking the way, he added. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and it’s too soon to say if there’s anything suspicious about it, Raeburn noted.
David West, mayor of Richmond Hill, expressed that “this is a heartbreaking morning for our community” during his statement on Wednesday.
“The hearts of the community of Richmond Hill are with the family and everyone affected by this tragedy,” he shared via social media.
The Office of the Fire Marshal has been called in and is collaborating with investigators to figure out how the fire started.
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