Toronto firefighters are facing a challenging situation as they battle a persistent fire at two buildings in Thorncliffe Park. Chief Jim Jessop highlighted the difficulties they are encountering in extinguishing the fire, which involves combustible particle board lodged behind a concrete expansion joint.
Despite their best efforts, access to the burning material remains extremely challenging for the crews, with Chief Jessop comparing the situation to a slow-burning cigar without visible flames. The ongoing blaze has been a unique and unprecedented challenge, according to Jessop, who has not encountered a similar incident in his 30-year career.
The fire, which started at 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr. before spreading to an adjacent building at 21 Overlea Blvd., led to a large-scale response and the evacuation of over 400 units due to rising carbon monoxide levels. While progress has been made in reducing the levels of carbon monoxide, the situation is still being closely monitored.
Toronto emergency management executive director Joanna Beaven-Desjardins provided an update on the support being offered to affected households, with many residents currently housed in hotel rooms or staying with friends and family. The Canadian Red Cross is providing assistance, and the support services are scheduled to remain in place until Thursday, with ongoing assessments.
Chief Jessop mentioned that engineers are working on solutions to access the hidden areas where the particle board is burning. Crews have been attempting to reach these areas behind the walls without any signs of structural damage to the buildings. Despite the challenges, efforts are ongoing to resolve the situation and support displaced residents.