Fire chief praises ‘heroic’ efforts of first responders in 2‑alarm North York apartment fire
Posted July 9, 2026 6:53 am.
Last Updated July 9, 2026 1:39 pm.
Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop praised the “heroic” efforts of first responders in preventing further tragedy after a 2-alarm fire tore through the ninth floor of a North York apartment building early Thursday.
Police say the call came in at 1:52 a.m. for reports of a fire at 1420 Victoria Park Ave. near O’Connor Drive and Eglinton Avenue East.
Toronto Fire Commander Paul O’Brien said crews encountered black, fully charged smoke on the ninth floor when they arrived. The fire originated in the hallway on the south side of the floor, causing major damage to the corridor and affecting approximately 18 units.
Five people were treated at the scene, and two elderly women were taken to the hospital — one with serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries, the other with minor injuries, according to paramedics.
“Seeing the conditions that the first responders attended to, their incredible work is the only reason we do not have multiple fatalities to report,” Chief Jessop said in an update Thursday afternoon.
“They performed heroically, getting up to the ninth floor, battling their way through pitch-black and heavy heat, evacuating seniors out of the floor.”
More than 40 firefighters were on scene at the height of the blaze, according to Chief Jessop.
“Mobility was a huge issue, which is why it was immediately escalated to a second alarm because we absolutely needed those numbers of staff to perform all the critical tasks that have to be done simultaneously in a high-rise fire, especially dealing with senior citizens.”
Jessop went on to say that the fire “destroyed” the ninth floor, and that those units will remain uninhabitable “for a significant amount of time” given the damage to the hallway.
“The fire door that separated the south and north tower absolutely did its job. Very, very little damage on the north side. It held the fire back, it held the smoke back, or we would be even in a more difficult situation than we are right now.”
The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is underway. Jessop would not say if the fire is considered suspicious, despite reports that there was a mattress in the hallway at the time of the blaze. Toronto police are assisting fire officials in the investigation.
This is the second fire at the same Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) building in recent days. On June 28, a resident was killed in a separate blaze at the North York address. Chief Jessop said there is nothing to indicate that the two fires are connected.
TCHC issued a public statement at the time acknowledging the fatal fire and outlining support for displaced tenants.
