Hazmat team called in after fire at North York auto body shop
Posted June 14, 2017 2:31 pm.
Last Updated January 31, 2019 7:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A fire in an abandoned auto shop in North York had to be treated with care due to possible hazardous materials contained in the building.
Toronto Fire Services got several 911 calls about the fire at a building on Rivalda Road, near Weston Road and Sheppard Avenue West, around 1 p.m. Wednesday.
When firefighters arrived, they were met with heavy smoke and flames. Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop said there were hazardous materials and compressed gas cylinders in the building.
A man who lives nearby said he heard explosions.
“Several explosions went off — like 10 explosions went off,” Jason Sansarran said. “So that was the first thing that came to my mind — there was a bombing going off.
“I see a lot of flames. The cloud up there was so dark, like Judgment Day was going on.”
Crews soon got the fire under control, but Jessop said they were still dousing hot spots hours later and would be there into the evening.
No one was injured.
Firefighters were waiting for the all-clear from the hazmat team before they could go in and investigate the cause.
