Canada: North York mansion gutted by fire

Stephan Powell, District Chief for Toronto Fire Services said that the rear of the house was fully damaged by the time they arrived, CBC News reported.

He said firefighters had to protect properties on either side of the house.

People could see high flames from a distance going through the roof and the house's second-storey windows and felt the heat from the blaze penetrating, reports said.

More than 80 firefighters had been fighting to distinguish the blaze for two and a half hours. They began at about 1:25 a.m. Sunday which was brought under control by 4 a.m.

Crews began demolition of the building early Tuesday after Powell said the structure of the building was unsafe.

Powell said he was not sure if investigators have spoken to the owners.

An estimate of the property damage was unavailable at that time, but damage was severe, said Powell.

He also said that although the cause of fire could not be determined so early, but he did not rule out arson.

"I don't think anything has been ruled out," Powell told CBC Toronto, CBC News reports said.

No body was reported to be injured, because during the outbreak of fire the house was believed to be unoccupied.

The cause of fire at the Mansion near Bayview Avenue and Highway 401 is being investigated by the Fire Marshal's Office.

(Reported by Asha Bajaj, Image of building on fire: Wikipedia)