Nearly a month has passed since residents of two buildings in Thorncliffe Park, Toronto, were forced to evacuate due to one of the most unusual fires in the city's history. As Christmas approaches, there remains uncertainty regarding when these individuals will be allowed to return to their homes.
One resident who spoke with CityNews expressed the stress of the situation: “Living day by day. God knows only the timeline.” Many residents have been seen entering neighboring condo buildings to collect personal belongings, realizing that they would spend the holiday season away from home. While some remain hopeful about a resolution, others, like a man expecting a family of four, have opted to leave due to continued uncertainty. “My wife is about to give birth, and we didn’t know how long it would take, so that’s why we decided to leave,” he explained.
In an effort to provide some holiday cheer, a local hotel, the Toronto Don Valley Hotel, where many displaced residents have been temporarily accommodated, is organizing a luncheon for them on Christmas Eve. Kevin Porter, the hotel’s general manager, noted the emotional toll of the residents' displacement: “Certainly these residents have been through enough, and I think the displacement has caused a fair amount of stress for them …it leaves a lot of them vulnerable and away from their families.”
The hotel is planning a festive buffet prepared by their chef, along with gifts donated by local vendors. “We’re going to do some draws and have some fun and play some Christmas music, just a way to try and show some humanity at this time of year,” said Porter.
The incident began on November 27, when fire crews were called to the premises. It took them 18 days to extinguish the unusual blaze that was found burning between the walls of the two buildings. Due to the limited space to access the fire, crews had to deploy innovative techniques to battle a fire that was not directly visible. Fire services returned control of the properties to the management company on December 16.
After the fire was extinguished, the management company engaged third-party engineers to assess the buildings to determine their safety for re-occupancy. City officials stated that once the engineers complete their assessment, they will issue a report that outlines which repairs are necessary and what conditions must be met before the more than 400 displaced residents can return home.
As the holidays draw closer, these families remain in limbo, waiting for news about their living situations amidst the ongoing assessments and repairs following the bizarre fire incident.
