Scrap Yard Fire Near Jane And Dundas
Posted September 11, 2009 8:31 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Students and staff at Runnymede Collegiate Institute had to be evacuated Friday after a junk yard fire sent potentially toxic fumes into the school.
The blaze broke out before 8am Friday at the yard owned by Canada Iron and Metal Company at 3534 Dundas St. W., near Jane St.
It took 70 firefighters to contain the stubborn fire that charred piles of mangled car parts and gas tanks. One fireman suffered minor smoke inhalation.
Crews were concerned that the smoke – visible as far away as the CN Tower and Pearson International Airport – was toxic.
“In scrap yard fires [there’s] typically a lot of smoke, unknown substances burning,” revealed Div. Commander Mike McCoy. “The fire came in about a quarter to eight, so you’ve got kids going to school. The immediate concern was to determine where the smoke was going and make sure people were informed they should stay off the streets as much as possible.”
It’s still not certain what sparked the flames.
“It’s usually accidental but we have not confirmed the cause of the fire,” admitted McCoy.
The Ministry of the Environment will be testing the quality of the air and water run-off as a precaution.
Image credit: CityNews viewer David Oxley.
