York firefighters rescue family from house fire

Four people and their dog were rescued from a home “fully engulfed in flames” in Thornhill early Thursday.

York Region police officers and firefighters rushed into the home at 32 Colborne St., near Yonge and John streets, and carried two people in wheelchairs out of the burning structure. They also ensured the house was evacuated.

“Officers rushed inside the burning building and located four people and the family dog still inside the home,” York police said in a news release.

Four occupants of the home and an officer were transported to hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation. Three other officers were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. They are all expected to recover.

Firefighters battled the “extremely difficult” blaze for three hours, said Deputy Fire Chief Adam Grant.

At around 2:20 a.m., a neighbour’s dog appeared to be “acting funny.” When the owner followed him downstairs, he discovered heavy flames pouring out of the front of the home next door and called 911.

The long front porch was fully engulfed, Grant said.

“There was black, heavy smoke. The weather was really challenging because of the high pressure and humidity, it pushed the smoke down. It was extremely difficult,” Grant said.

The home was an older structure with several additions on the back, creating multiple roof cavities that were hard to access, he said.

“Once it got into the attic it was extremely challenging.”

For three hours, 30 firefighters worked to get control of the flames, taking apart portions of the ceiling and dousing the roof using aerial equipment, he said.

“It was a challenging one. The street was very narrow,” he said. “An electrical wire to the home had burned and the live wire was dangling from a tree. It was crazy.”

Hydro and gas workers were called to quickly eliminate the exposed wire.

Grant praised the teamwork by three agencies — York Region police, Markham fire and EMS.

“This is where you really appreciate the work firefighters do in this heat, with all the gear they wear,” he said. “It was just great work by everyone. Everybody was doing their job, like a well-oiled machine.”

Fire crews will remain on the scene for the day in case of flare-ups, he said.

Investigators with York Regional Police #2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau, along with the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal are investigating.

The fire is not considered to be suspicious at this time.