Hundreds still waiting for power after fire at west-end Toronto highrise

Hundreds of residents of a west-end Toronto highrise spent another night without power after a five-alarm electrical fire tore through the building over the weekend.

Fire officials say it could take a number of days to restore power to the building in the area of Bloor Street West and Dovercourt Road. Crews responded to reports of an explosion and fire at 357 Rusholme Road on Sunday afternoon that ended up damaging the 16-storey building’s electrical system.

In an update on Monday, deputy fire chief Jim Jessop said water service was back on, and crews were focused on restoring power to the building’s fire safety systems. He said that in-suite power, including lights, air conditioning and stoves, will not be restored for at least “a number of days.”

Mayor Olivia Chow says the city is working very closely with the landlord and the tenants.

“We are assisting to make sure, if people need to come up and down or need water, there is assistance,” said Chow on Tuesday. “We are monitoring very closely. Most of the people are staying place in their building.”

Residents have been forced to navigate the halls in darkness, using the light from their phones to go inside and retrieve belongings. The stairwells of the building have been lit with portable generators.

No evacuation orders are in place preventing residents from returning to their units, and Toronto Fire says the building is safe despite the lingering smell of smoke.

“It’s not uncommon. We have maintained a presence the entire time,” says Jessop. “We’ve been air monitoring all night, there is zero concern.”

Tenants who have been displaced claim to have had longstanding issues with the property management company, with some expressing frustration over the lack of communication from management and the shoddy renovations at the property.

A group of tenants squared off with a property management spokesperson who was speaking to reporters outside the residence on Monday afternoon. Sterling Karamar Property Management spokesperson Danny Roth was asked to respond to tenant claims of chronic issues with the electrical system at the building.

“That’s simply not true,” answered Roth before nearby residents chimed in to dispute his answer.

“Buildings like this, management like this, get away with murder,” shouted one angry resident.

In the meantime, temporary shelter spaces are being prepared for residents at nearby churches and community centres. Residents are encouraged to stay with family or friends if possible.

“That is a challenge in the city right now,” says Coun. Alejandra Bravo. “That’s something that we are going to be following up on.”

No serious injuries were reported in Sunday’s fire. The cause is still unknown.

The Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating.