A fire is still raging between two tall buildings in Thorncliffe Park, following a similar incident that forced hundreds of people out of their homes for 15 days half a year ago. Toronto Fire Services (TFS) has not provided a specific timeframe for extinguishing the blaze affecting both towers, as per their statement on Tuesday.
Toronto fire Chief Jim Jessop revealed that fire crews rushed to the Thorncliffe Park area just after 11:30 a.m. on Monday. Currently, 88 Toronto fire trucks have been deployed to the scene, with 15 actively operating as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to TFS. Fortunately, there have been no injuries, and residents have not been evacuated as it is deemed safe for them to remain in the building.
During a news conference, Jessop assured reporters that residents’ lives would not be disrupted at this point, considering the challenges they faced at the end of 2025. The fire that started on Monday reignited the material between the walls of the two buildings, stemming from repair work carried out on a seventh-floor unit. Sparks from a saw ignited the material while attempts were made to cut through a concrete wall to remove flammable particle board left from the previous fire.
According to Jessop, remnants from the initial fire that had not yet ignited are still present in the building. He mentioned that the access points used during the first fire remain open, and the fire crews now have a clearer strategy in place to combat the blaze. Jessop emphasized that the lessons learned from the previous incident have put them in a better position this time, with crews committed to staying on-site until the fire is completely extinguished.
As per Kamal Gogna, the chief building official and executive director of Toronto Building, all restoration and repair work on the building has been halted immediately. This includes the removal of flammable material and the application of firestopping products to fill gaps. The property management company’s engineers have been tasked with devising a new plan for safe construction, which will undergo city approval before work resumes.
Gogna stressed that the safety of residents, workers, and first responders remains the top priority. Efforts to determine the duration for completing the report are currently underway. Following the first fire incident, charges were brought against the condominium corporation, its property management company, and a construction firm for breaching the Ontario Fire Code.
Notably, no additional charges are expected to be filed in connection with the recent fire. City councilor Rachel Chernos Lin acknowledged the resilience of the Thorncliffe Park community but highlighted the challenging period they have endured since the November fire. She emphasized the importance of providing the necessary support to help them cope with the situation.