‘We want to go home,’ residents say as Thorncliffe Park blaze continues for 6th day

Almost one week after the Thorncliffe Park blaze started, engineers and fire crews have officially decided they’ll need to destroy the wall to access the burning material and extinguish it.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Toronto Fire Services Chief Jim Jessop said city engineers have recommended causing “significant damage” to units with the adjoining burning wall.

“We understand this is hard to hear for those impacted,” he said. “We know residents are eager to return home and we share that urgency, but safety must come first.”

Jessop has called the five-alarm blaze, which originally started on Nov. 27, one of the “more complex” he's seen in his career. The fire has displaced residents in the buildings and many are now staying in hotel rooms while they wait to be told when they can return.

Jessop said the building will remain evacuated until further notice and while he can’t provide a specific timeframe, it will be at least until next week.

Firefighting crews are continuing to meet with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to explore options other than destruction. 

But Jessop said the burning material, which is no more than two inches in width, is sandwiched between two buildings, so getting water and other extinguishing agents on it includes putting holes in walls. 

“There is absolutely going to be damage to the units,” he said Wednesday at city hall.

For those displaced, going home can’t come soon enough. Resident Jacqui Julian says though they’re getting food and shelter at the hotel, she’s tired.

“We want to go home," Julian said.

Ines Caparas, another displaced resident, said she’s thankful no one has been hurt and grateful to those working around the clock to extinguish the blaze.

“It's not everyday that life is sailing smoothly. There is a bumpy road sometimes,” she said. 

A total of 239 individuals from 119 different households were supported with hotel accommodations through the Canadian Red Cross, city spokesperson Kate Lear said in an emailed statement. Those 239 people are occupying 131 hotel rooms.

Coun. Rachel Chernos Lin (Don Valley West) said she understands that people are anxious for the day they’re told they’re able to return.