Toronto blaze guts row of historic buildings
Streetcar travel remains snarled on Queen, Bathurst streets
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 | 2:34 PM ET
CBC News
A large fire Wednesday in downtown Toronto has caused millions of dollars in damage and left a row of century-old buildings on Queen Street a smoking ruin.
A six-alarm fire broke out on Queen Street near Bathurst early Wednesday morning.
(David Michael Lamb/CBC)
More than 150 Toronto firefighters worked to tame the fire, which broke out around 5:30 a.m. in a street-level stereo store on Queen Street West, just east of Bathurst Street.
By about 7:30 a.m., the fire had destroyed Duke's Cycle at 625 Queen St. W., five doors down. The bicycle store — a destination for cyclists for 95 years — had collapsed.
More than 500 firefighters fought the blaze.
(David Michael Lamb/CBC)
"There is no building left anymore. It's gone," owner Gary Duke told CBC News. "My father was born upstairs, my brother lived upstairs. It hurts."
By 11 a.m., the main fire was under control but crews continued to fight flare-ups under material that had collapsed in the blaze.
Toronto fire Chief Bill Stewart said the fire marshal has been called in to investigate the blaze, which he said affected at least 14 buildings and caused millions of dollars in damage.
Smoke plumes were visible over downtown Toronto.
(CBC-TV)
Deputy fire Chief Frank Lamie said the building another building on the street was also in danger of collapse.
No injuries were reported as people forced from their second-floor apartments huddled on public transit buses to keep warm in a wind chill that felt like –21 C. However, emergency workers were seen carrying stretchers into the building.
Many tenants said they were woken before dawn by police and firefighters banging on their doors. Some were taken by ladder from their windows.
A view from Richmond Street looking north to Queen Street at 8:30 a.m. shows smoke billowing from a row of buildings.
(Carolyn Peters)
The area largely consists of street-level shops and businesses with upper-level apartments.
Streetcar service for the 501, 511 and 510 cars has been diverted. Toronto Transit Commission officials are advising customers to use streetcars travelling along King Street.
Streetcar traffic along Bathurst Street was also shut down, with several cars backed up on the busy street.
A smoky haze is visible over the city's downtown core and the smell of smoke extends as far as 25 blocks away and into nearby subway stations.
