Man dies after being pulled from fire in Toronto's west end

A man has died after being pulled from a fire at a west-end Toronto building, the city's fire chief says.

In a tweet on Wednesday evening, Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg extended condolences to  the family and friends of the man, who he said died of his injuries.

The fire happened in a building on Dupont Street near Edwin Avenue. Firefighters were called to the blaze at about 12:30 p.m.

Pegg said firefighters found the man without vital signs while searching an apartment in the second storey of the building. The unit sustained significant damage, he said.

The chief added that he didn't know if there were working smoke alarms in the apartment. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters brought the man outside and paramedics resuscitated him before taking him to a trauma centre in life-threatening condition, according to Toronto paramedics. The man was later pronounced dead.

Next of kin have been notified.

Pegg said firefighters also found three cats, one of which has died. 

Toronto Fire Services' fire investigation team will work to identify the origin, cause and circumstances of the fire, he said. 

Ontario's Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified and was on the scene on Wednesday afternoon.