TORONTO – Firefighters are currently battling a blaze at two highrise towers in Toronto, just months after another fire forced hundreds of residents to evacuate.
Toronto fire Chief Jim Jessop reports that crews responded to an emergency call in the Thorncliffe Park area shortly after 11:30 a. m. and have been working hard to extinguish the flames while also checking both buildings for smoke and carbon monoxide levels.
He mentioned that the buildings have not been evacuated, and residents are safely sheltering in place because it is “safe to do so at this time.”
According to Jessop, the fire is affecting the insulation trapped within the concrete walls between 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr. and 21 Overlea Blvd., similar to what happened late last year.
Around 400 units were evacuated back then due to rising carbon monoxide levels.
He noted that the owners of the buildings have implemented several measures since then, including hiring an engineering firm and submitting necessary plans.
“They were following what they had committed to do,” he said during a news conference on Monday.
“As part of the rehabilitation from the previous fire, the building’s owner and their engineering team hoarded off and basically isolated the area in question on both sides of the building. That is why right now the only areas where we have smoke and carbon monoxide is in that enclosed area.”
The investigations division of Toronto Fire Service is present at the scene looking into how this fire started, its cause, and surrounding circumstances.
“Our crews are doing continual air monitoring throughout the building to make sure that the residents are in no danger,” he stated.
“The operation will continue until Toronto Fire Service is satisfied that the fire is completely extinguished.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first May 4, 2026.
Maan Alhmidi, The Canadian Press
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