A person died after a fire broke out in an apartment in the eastern part of the city on Saturday morning.

Fire crews responded to a fire in a residential building on Victoria Park Street, near O'Connor Drive, at about 8:10 a.m.

The crew said the fire was on the eighth floor. When crews arrived at the scene, they were met with thick smoke and had to enter the unit with difficulty.

Deputy Chief of the Toronto Fire Department, Jim Jessop, said at the scene: "Our crews conducted initial searches very quickly and extinguished the fire, and unfortunately, during the initial search, we discovered one of the residents who was obviously deceased."

The victim's identity has not been disclosed, but neighbors told CP24 that a woman lived alone in the apartment. Her neighbor Sharon Knapp said, "It is very sad I knew her well, she was a wonderful person.

She was always sitting and talking and laughing with everyone, it is very sad to see her die this way."

Officials said the fire was quickly extinguished and no other units were affected.