A silent threat smoldered for weeks within the walls of two Toronto highrises, finally extinguished late Monday, bringing a measure of relief to hundreds of displaced residents.
The fire, which began November 27th, wasn’t a blaze of flames, but a hidden burn within the buildings’ structure – combustible particle board nestled in an expansion joint between 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr. and 21 Overlea Blvd. This insidious fire proved remarkably difficult to fully suppress.
The scale of the disruption was significant. Over 400 units were evacuated, forcing 239 people from 119 households into temporary accommodation in 131 hotel rooms. Imagine the uncertainty and upheaval of being forced to leave everything behind.
Now, with the fire declared out, the focus shifts to understanding the extent of the damage. Property management firms are preparing for comprehensive engineering assessments of both buildings, a crucial step towards determining their safety and habitability.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, a lingering question mark for those affected. Officials are carefully investigating the origin, but a timeline for residents’ return remains uncertain, adding to the anxiety.
Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop and Kamal Gogna, executive director of Toronto Building, acknowledged the residents’ patience during this challenging period. They are expected to provide further details and answer questions from the media on Tuesday.
The coming assessments will be pivotal. Residents await direct communication from their property management companies, hoping for clarity and a path back to their homes, a return to normalcy after weeks of displacement.
