Captain Seriously Injured, Mayday Called at Toronto Fire

A Toronto fire captain was seriously injured at a house fire Tuesday morning.

The fire was reported around 9 a.m. in a two-story home near Dufferin Street and Alma Avenue in Little Portugal.

Several residents were still inside the home and trying to escape when Toronto Fire Service crews arrived, according to CityNews.

Firefighters began search efforts when a mayday was called.

Video from the scene shows a firefighter's legs dangling from an aerial ladder that's being retracted from the burning home.

"My understanding is that the crew encountered a very high level of heat during their search and rescue. Interior search and rescue is a very, very dangerous operation. It's not uncommon for our firefighters to withstand very significant amounts of heat in the course of their duties," Interim Fire Chief Matthew Pegg told CBC.

"In this case, there was a very experienced crew and a very experienced captain who recognized that the heat was too high. He made the decision to leave the building and move to the outside."

He was unconscious when he was pulled from the house.

The firefighter was in critical condition, but sustained non life-threatening, Toronto Paramedic Services spokesperson Kim McKinnon told CBC.