Displaced residents could return Wednesday after midtown racquet club fire

Fire officials are hoping most residents and business owners affected by Tuesday’s massive six-alarm fire in midtown Toronto will be allowed back to the area later on Wednesday.

More than 120 firefighters were called to the Badminton & Racquet Club of Toronto around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and were met head-on by a ravenous fire that was quickly spreading. The fire forced the evacuation of surrounding buildings and businesses.

Firefighters were ordered out of the building, so fire crews had to tackle the blaze from the balconies of neighbouring buildings. Toronto Fire may still need to use a few of those units on Thursday.

Sections of the roof were opened up so that firefighters could douse the fire overhead with aerial water hoses. An excavator was tearing down debris late into the night to help firefighters reach hot spots.

It’s not yet known what started the blaze, which broke out on the second floor of the racquet club at 25 St. Clair Ave. W., but Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop said on Wednesday it didn’t appear suspicious.

He said it could take weeks or months to determine the cause.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries in the fire and have since been released from hospital.

Jessop said crews have made progress since the morning, but they are continuing to deal with hot spots.

The fire was burning for over 12 hours, Jessop said. Crews had to use seven elevated devices, something he has not seen for more than 20 years. He said the damage is expected to be more than $1 million.

In a letter to its members, the club said the fire appears to have spared the west side of the building which includes squash and tennis courts and the courtside lounge; however, there is “significant water and smoke damage in these areas.”

Six buildings were evacuated and fire officials have to test the air quality before residents can be allowed back in. All but four residents were able to find a place to stay overnight, Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said earlier on Wednesday.

Jessop said Toronto Hydro and Enbridge Gas crews are at the scene addressing issues at 1430 Yonge St. and 45 St. Clair Ave. W., and he anticipates most residents may be allowed to get back into their units later in the day.

Fire officials said they are still using neighbouring condo balconies to douse the hot spots and monitor any potential flare-ups. Jessop said residents’ units have been kept relatively clean with the exception of some minor water damage.

The Ontario Fire Marshal is on the scene and is working with fire officials to assess the damage to the club and adjoining structures. There is still no access to areas with the heaviest damage.

Jessop said Toronto Building is also on site to assess the integrity of the structures, and so far there are no significant concerns raised about the adjoining buildings. Carbon monoxide levels have decreased to a safe level and crews are continuing to monitor the air quality.

Earlier in the day, Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said the fire was brought under control as of 5:45 a.m., and that there were a number of partial collapses in the building.

Jessop said some hydro vaults were under 12 feet of water, causing “significant water damage.”

He said the club’s structure was present long before the Ontario Building Code was enacted, so sprinklers were not required in some portions of the building. However, he added it is too early to say if sprinklers would have made a difference.

Fire crews plan to scale back their operation over the course of the day and open up more streets in the area by suppertime. Around 20 to 30 firefighters remain at the scene.

The racquet club is closed until further notice, but management said other clubs in the area have offered their spaces to members.

“Although we are faced with a terrible loss we are incredibly fortunate that no one was hurt and we did not lose anyone,” the club in the letter.

In terms of road closures, St. Clair east of Yonge is open in both directions, as is Yonge in both directions north of St Clair.

However, the eastbound lanes of St. Clair west of Yonge will remain closed from Avenue Road to Yonge, and Yonge in both directions from St. Clair to Woodlawn Avenue is closed.

The TTC said streetcars were up and running along St. Clair, and St. Clair subway station was opened for the start of the morning service. The 97 Yonge bus will be on diversion around St Clair.

The original building that houses the racquet club was built in the late 1800s by the Toronto and York Railway company. In 1921, the TTC took over the building and used it as a streetcar house. Then in 1924, it became the Toronto Badminton and Racquet Club.