‘Not extinguished yet’: Fire at Thorncliffe Park condos still burning after 5 days, more than 400 residences remain evacuated

Fire Chief Jim Jessop says the Thorncliffe apartment fire is still active and explains how a combustible particle board is burning.

A fire that has displaced hundreds of residents at a pair of East York condominiums is still burning after five days, and officials say the configuration of the buildings means putting it out is “next to impossible.”

“The fire continues to burn. The fire is not extinguished yet,” Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop said at a news conference on Monday outside of 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr., where the fire began burning last Thursday before spreading to 21 Overlea Blvd.

Jessop explained that the fire is burning slowly and likened it to a smouldering cigar. He said that combustible particle board in the walls between the two Thorncliffe Park condos is what’s on fire, and that crews can’t put it out because they can’t get to it.

“This is the problem we are talking about,” Jessop said, holding up a piece of particle board. “We can’t access it. You’re dealing with two buildings and this was put in between an expansion joint.”

Jessop says he hasn’t seen a fire as complex as this one in his 30 years on the job. He said he visited the roof of one of the buildings this morning and could see smoke coming out of the structure.

The chief would not comment on the cause of the fire, citing an ongoing investigation.

Toronto fire crews have been on scene of the fire since last Thursday and Jessop said a team of engineers is currently working on a strategy to access the burning construction material. He said the thought of demolishing the buildings to put the fire out has not been discussed.

Concurrently, inspectors with Toronto Fire Service (TFS) and the city are developing plans for the return of affected residents as soon as the fire is extinguished, Jessop said.

More than 400 units were evacuated Thursday due to the smoke in the buildings and rising carbon monoxide levels.

Joanna Beaven-Desjardins, executive director of Toronto Emergency Management, said 141 households (293 individuals) are being supported by the Canadian Red Cross and 117 hotel rooms are being used to house those who have been displaced.

“The emergency supports that we have been giving these residents, we have extended them until Thursday,” she said, noting that her team is re-evaluating the situation on a daily basis.

Beaven-Desjardins advised residents to get in touch with their insurance providers to determine what their coverage looks like.

There is currently no timeline on when displaced residents will be cleared to return home.

“I want to thank the residents (for their patience). We are doing our best. I can’t imagine being displaced, but the entire city has mobilized and every resource we have is being put to solve this problem,” Jessop said.