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In 1997 and 2000, the woman who is believed to be the victim was charged with sex trade-related offences.

He may be a resident of this address or visiting someone. He is someone we would like to speak to

“You can understand our victim is now 72 years of age, so these are dated,” he said. “I don’t know if it has anything to do with this [investigation] whatsoever.”

Det.-Sgt. Browne said footage from the building shows a male on the second floor approximately one hour prior to when the fire began. He was seen exiting the back of the building just before the superintendent called 9-1-1, he said.

“We don’t know who this person is,” said Det.-Sgt. Browne. “He may be a resident of this address or visiting someone. He is someone we would like to speak to.”

The man in the video is black, over six-feet tall and in his mid-20s. He was wearing a white shirt, plaid shorts, white runners and a grey baseball cap.

Rey Camposano, a resident of the building for eight years, said this is the first time an incident like this has happened.

“We’ve only had false alarms with the smoke detector, but not this kind of situation,” he said.

Mr. Camposano said he didn’t know the woman very well but suspected she lived alone.

“We just know her by face, but not by name,” he said. “I usually don’t see her because I’m on the night shift [at work].”

Apartment resident Judith Basco said she wasn’t home when the fire happened, but said a fellow resident told her she was a smoker.

“Maybe the cigarette caused the fire,” she said.

Toronto Fire Captain Mike Strapko said he wasn’t sure whether the smoke alarm worked in the unit. He said the smoke detectors in the building were working.

The fire marshal’s office will continue to investigate the cause of the fire.