No timeline when residents forced from Toronto highrise after huge fire can return
Posted September 27, 2010 10:48 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Three days after a six-alarm blaze ripped through a Wellesely Street highrise, the 1,200 residents still do not know when they will be able to return home.
City and fire officials provided the public with another update, Monday, and said the broken fire detection and alarm system, along with several busted doors need to be repaired before the evacuation order is lifted.
However, officials gave no concrete date as to when all the repairs would be completed.
Chris Williams, a spokesperson with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, said nothing is left inside the unit where the flames erupted.
“All we’re dealing with are bare concrete walls – severe damage and ash and debris several feet deep throughout the area of the suite of origin.”
Since Friday the displaced tenants have been staying at two centres, including the Wellesley Community Centre, which is the main emergency sheltar.
“Last night we had about 200 people stay between the two reception centres overnight. We can accommodate more, and we do have the capacity to expand either cots here, or move to other facilities if we need to,” said Rob Andrusevich, spokesperson for the City of Toronto.
Donations are being accepted for residents. Cash and gift cards are preferred.
