Man dies after vehicle fire spreads to two Richmond Hill homes

A 69-year-old man died after a vehicle fire on a driveway spread to two semi-detached homes in Richmond Hill early Wednesday morning. York police received a call about the fire on Crosby Avenue, near Bayview Avenue, at approximately 3:05 a.m. The blaze damaged both houses, which were evacuated; a man was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead in hospital.

Richmond Hill Fire Chief Tom Raeburn said the chaotic scene made it difficult for firefighters to address the fire promptly, with three cars fully engulfed between the two burning homes. Vehicles blocking entrances further hindered emergency response efforts. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities are continuing their investigation with assistance from Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal scheduled to arrive Wednesday morning.