Residents at two East York apartment buildings will spend a fourth day out of their homes with no time frame for when they might be able to return.
A five-alarm fire around 1:30 p.m. Thursday at 11 Thorncliffe Park, which then spread to a neighbouring building at 21 Overlea Boulevard, displaced residents in more than 400 units due to high levels of carbon monoxide.
There was no update on Sunday, with officials previously saying it could be hours or even days before the fire is fully extinguished. An update is expected on Monday.
“It’s been very stressful since lunchtime Thursday, it’s the not knowing that’s stressful,” said one resident who spoke with CityNews on Saturday.
“We were just trying to get some emergency documents, kids’ medications and school bags, which is hard because right now we don’t know what to take and what to leave inside – we cannot move the entire house at once,” said another, who added that he and his family of five, including a two-month old baby, have taken up temporary residence at his father-in-law’s home in the Donlands area.
Fire officials have said the fire is “still burning” behind the walls, describing the situation as complex and unusual. Crews said they are making slow progress as heat and carbon monoxide levels continue to decrease.
“Our progress is going in the direction we want, however, very slowly,” Acting Division Commander Rob Hewson said on Saturday.
Even when the fire is fully extinguished, fire crews say they will remain on site for no less than 24 hours to ensure carbon monoxide levels return to zero.
The fire is believed to have started in the building’s underground parking structure before making its way up, but the exact cause and origin of the blaze remains under investigation.
