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Charges against three companies have been laid following an investigation by Toronto Fire Services and Toronto police following a weeks-long fire inside two condo buildings in Thorncliffe Park last year, which burned for 18 days and forced residents out of their homes.
A condominium corporation associated with 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr., its property management company and a construction company were charged, fire Chief Jim Jessop said Thursday. All were charged with violations of the Ontario Fire Code.
Jessop said the investigation determined that “construction activities” taking place at 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr., used “ignition sources near combustible materials, causing the fire to ignite.”
“Toronto Fire Services was not notified of the fire for over 30 minutes,” he said.
Jessop announced the following violations for the companies charged:
PFC Construction Inc. — failing to protect combustible materials from ignition sources during hot surface applications, failing to conduct a fire watch and ensure a fire warning is sounded, failing to provide portable fire extinguishers when conducting hot surface applications. Metropolitan Toronto Condominium Corporation 956— failing to implement the building’s fire safety plan.DEL Property Management Inc. — failing to implement the building’s fire safety plan.Property management, construction company respond
All three companies charged are expected to appear in court later this month, Jessop said.
“We continue to reflect on the fire that occurred last November. Our thoughts remain with everyone in the Thorncliffe Park community who was affected by this incident,” Mike Murray, president of DEL Property Management Inc., said in an emailed statement.
“The circumstances were complex and extremely challenging. From day one, we have cooperated fully with investigators, and that commitment remains unchanged,” he said.
The counsel for PFC Construction Inc. declined to provide a detailed statement, citing that the matter is before the courts.
“The company has cooperated with every step of the investigation thus far, takes the charges very seriously, and will vigorously defend against these charges,” lawyer Niki Kanavas said in an email.
Fire forced evacuation of 408 units
The fire broke out on Nov. 27 and wasn’t extinguished until Dec. 15. A total of 408 units had to be evacuated until residents were allowed to return to their units in stages.
Toronto fire officials previously said the blaze burned combustible particle board placed in an expansion joint between the two buildings. Crews had to go through the walls of some units to access the source and ensure the fire was out, which caused extra damage.
WATCH | Complexity of Thorncliffe Park fire explained:
Tiny gap, big problem: Toronto’s 6-day apartment fire explained
A fire has been burning inside the walls of a Toronto apartment complex for six days. For The National, CBC’s Ashley Fraser breaks down the unique characteristics of the Thorncliffe Park buildings that are making the fire so challenging to put out.
Many residents had to stay in hotel rooms and received support from the Red Cross.
Jessop has routinely referred to the fire as one of the most “complex” the city has ever seen.