1 person in life-threatening condition after firefighters rescue 11 from 4-alarm blaze

Four people have been hospitalized as a result of an apartment fire near Leeds Street and Ossington Avenue that firefighters are still actively battling.

One person is in "critical, life-threatening condition," Acting Fire Chief Jim Jessop told reporters near the scene Saturday morning.

Jessop said firefighters rescued 11 people from the building, four of whom were taken to the hospital.

Early Saturday morning, people reported seeing flames and smoke off the top of the multi-storey apartment building in the city's west end.

"It's too early to speculate as to what happened at this point in time," Jessop said.

The blaze spread through the second and third floor of the building. It is currently classified as a four-alarm fire.

"Women and men of Toronto Fire are fighting admirably," Jessop said, noting that firefighting operations are currently "defensive" to try to avoid "internal collapses" in the building.

It is unclear how many people have been displaced by the fire, but TTC buses have been sent to provide some shelter.

All of Leeds Street is currently blocked off and police are advising people to avoid the area.