ESQUIMALT, British Columbia, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- About 100 Canadian seniors were homeless Christmas Day after a fire in their apartment complex took one man's life, authorities said.
News 1130 reported fire investigators were in Esquimalt on Vancouver Island in British Columbia trying to determine what caused the deadly Christmas Eve blaze.
The Victoria Times Colonist reported two people saw smoke coming from a neighbor's apartment, forced their way into the unit and pulled out an elderly man.
"He suffered smoke inhalation and was pronounced dead on the scene," said Vince Greenhill, acting assistant chief of the Esquimalt Fire Department. "The rescuers who forced in also suffered from some smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital. It could have been much worse. They put the fire out."
The other residents were evacuated and were not allowed to return to their homes because of extensive water damage to the building and the fire alarm system.
Another apartment building fire in Toronto Friday night also claimed one life, Postmedia News reported. Two other people were injured.
