‘Difficult for the community:’ New fire at Thorncliffe Park complex that was site of major blaze last year officially out

Officials say the two buildings have been formally turned over to the property management companies after insulation between them caught fire for a second time.

A new fire at a Thorncliffe Park apartment complex that was the site of a blaze that burned for weeks and displaced hundreds of residents last year has been fully extinguished.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, officials said that all firefighting operations have ended at 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr. and 21 Overlea Blvd., following the three-alarm fire that prompted a response from nearly 100 firefighters on May 4.

Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop says the latest fire originated in the same expansion joint as a November 27th 2025 blaze that burned for more than two weeks, leading to the evacuation and displacement of more than 400 residents.

According to Jessop, last years fire burned within the walls between the two buildings, slowly consuming a compressed wood material.

At the time, Jessop compared it to a “slow-burning cigar” that smoldered for weeks before being extinguished.

Jessop said last week that investigators observed smoke on multiple floors and elevated carbon monoxide levels in enclosed areas, similar to the previous fire, but stressed residents were not in danger.

No residents were ordered to evacuate as a result of last week’s fire.

“As part of the rehabilitation from the previous fire, the building’s owner and engineering team hoarded off and isolated the area in question on both sides of the building,” Jessop said.

“Right now, the only areas where we have smoke and carbon monoxide is in that enclosed area. That is why we’ve been able to keep everyone in their condo safely, but we are still continuing to monitor.”

In a statement, Jessop also acknowledged the challenges faced by residents over recent months.

He said that remedial work on the area where the latest fire broke out remains halted for now while city staff engage property management on “an updated construction methodology report to ensure work can proceed with the appropriate oversight and safety measures in place.”

“We recognize that this incident has been difficult for the community, especially after what they experienced late last year. We want to thank residents for their patience, resilience and co-operation throughout the response and ongoing recovery efforts,” Jessop said.