Killer Combustion

Charred concrete above a 21st floor window marks the apartment where a woman lost her life in a fire. Smoke drove others from the building. "You could smell it coming closer and closer," said daycare operator Franca Crescenzi.

About 50 firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the victim's apartment in the highrise at 340 Dixon Rd., near Kipling Ave. All highrise fires trigger two alarms automatically, but the first crews on the scene turned in a third alarm because of the smoke. "We had reports that there were people in the stairwells and in the hallways; that they were trapped," said Toronto Fire Services Platoon Chief Ron Brown.

The victim, whose name was not released, was believed to be in her late 50s, and had two children. She was described by neighbour Mary Madson as "very nice, very quiet." Damage was about $20,000. The cause was still being investigated.

March 16, 2001