York Memorial fire ruled ‘accidental,’ cause unknown: Fire Marshal

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office says the fire that broke out at York Memorial Collegiate Institute in May was “accidental.”

Investigators were unable to pinpoint what sparked the blaze in the school’s auditorium, but the office confirmed Thursday it was not deliberately set.

Emergency crews were first called to the school for a two-alarm fire around 2:15 p.m. on May 6 and found flames visible from the second floor.

The fire was extinguished and two people, including a firefighter, were taken to hospital with minor injuries, according to paramedics.

Following the incident, a fire watch was put into effect. TDSB security services were called in to guard the area until Fire Marshal officers could arrive to do a preliminary assessment in the morning.

Firefighters were then called back to the scene around 3:30 a.m. the next day after flames and heavy smoke began once again billowing out of the auditorium. It took over 24 hours to completely extinguish the blaze.

Thereafter investigators from the Office of the Fire Marshal arrived and began the investigation into the cause, origin and circumstances around the fire.

Carol Gravelle, Public Relations officer with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management says the two fire incidents are considered to be the same event and not two separate fires.

“This was a single event fire originating from within the wall cavities of the structure in the area of the school auditorium,” she said.

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg released a statement on Twitter saying he has received a copy of the Fire Marshal’s report.

“Our team will review this fire investigation report in detail in order to gain a full understanding as to the origin, cause and circumstance analysis that has been completed and determinations that have been reached by the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal,” he said adding that no further comments will be made until the report has been reviewed in full.

My statement on the release of the fire investigation report into the May 2019 fire at York Memorial Collegiate Institute by the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal. We received the report today will be reviewing the report in detail. @cityoftoronto @Toronto_Fire pic.twitter.com/vWLyjOmPS9

— Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) August 29, 2019

The TDSB expressed its thanks to the Fire Marshal and said it is currently focusing on making sure York Memorial students and staff settle into their temporary home:

“We want to thank the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office for their thorough investigation. While we will have to review the report in its entirety before commenting, we remain very thankful that nobody was seriously injured as a result of this fire. Our focus right now and in the weeks ahead is on York Memorial students and staff as they begin the school year at the former Scarlett Heights site.”