As anyone anywhere near Queen Street West already knows, a fire broke out early this morning on Queen, west of Bathurst Street, devastating a row of local business and homes on the historic strip.
The Toronto Star has posted a video on their website that shows the enormity of the fire, including big fat plumes of smoke filling the sky. There was so much smoke, in fact, that the communications director for the building where I work on Spadina Avenue, just north of Queen, sent out an email assuring tenants that the smoke smell in our building was from the fire near Bathurst and was not the result of something on fire here.
Watching the video and reading some of the reports that have already been filed, it’s hard not to feel heartbroken for those who lost their homes and businesses. According to the Star, the fire encompassed 14 or 15 buildings on the south side of Queen.
From the Star:
“We lost a piece of Toronto history, and its incredible,” Stewart said, coughing on smoke as he spoke to reporters.
Michael Cramwell, general manager of Duke’s Cycle, woke to a call around 6am and rushed to the scene.
He said the store just received new inventory and was gearing up for its biggest season ever. “I don’t think the shock will sink in for a while.”
Mayor David Miller issued this statement this morning:
"The thoughts of all Torontonians are with the residents and businesses in the historic area of Queen and Bathurst Streets who lost property in this morning's large fire.
"I want to thank and commend the brave and dedicated women and men of the Toronto Fire Service, more than 130 members of which responded to the call early this morning and did an extraordinary and heroic job of rescuing trapped residents and getting the fire under control in incredibly challenging circumstances. I also want to thank Toronto Police and Emergency Medical Services personnel for their critical support at the scene.
"Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the work of the TTC and the city's shelter support and housing staff who moved quickly to find shelter for the displaced residents. This co-ordinated response was especially important given the weather."