Weeks-long Toronto apartment fire is out but residents are still in limbo

A condo fire that burned for 18 days in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood has been extinguished, but displaced residents say immense uncertainty still lingers in the air. 

First detected on Nov. 27 at 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr., the fire quickly spread to the adjoining building at 21 Overlea Blvd., resulting in the evacuation of more than 400 residents from one of the city's most diverse and densely populated neighbourhoods.

At the time, the hundreds of displaced residents had no idea they'd be spending the next few weeks in limbo.

11 Thorncliffe Park Dr. Photo: Google Street View.

Nicole DuCôté, a resident at 21 Overlea Blvd., tells blogTO that unclear and infrequent communication from officials added to the stress she and other residents were already feeling.

She notes that a week went by without any updates or communications from the City of Toronto and or Toronto Fire Services. 

Firefighting efforts at 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr. Photo: Toronto Fire Services

"Despite multiple requests for regular status updates and requests for additional health & safety support for disabled, elderly and vulnerable residents, we were effectively ghosted," she says. "The week of silence was exceptionally stressful, frustrating and confusing for [us]."

DuCôté says her condo board worked hard to coordinate communication with Toronto Emergency Services, the City of Toronto, and Toronto Fire Services, including information about when it was safe to briefly return to collect belongings. 

Stacey-Anne Bistak, another displaced resident of 21 Overlea Blvd., tells blogTO she never received any communication from either the City or Canadian Red Cross, despite an email from the property management claiming they would. 

"Understandably, they had a lot on their plate, but leaving out residents isn't responsible," Bistak says.

Residents say the board repeatedly escalated requests for clearer, formal communication, emailing city officials, elected representatives, and emergency leaders, and even meeting in person with city staff to push for a structured communications plan.

DuCôté says they were left with unanswered questions about the safety of the building and the long-term impact of the fire. "Will we ever be able to return home?" she asks, claiming that residents weren't provided with any information on the structural damage or the condition of their individual units.

"That is not a very acceptable way to care for citizens and residents who are left with no home to go back to, with no foreseeable respite," adds Bistak. 

It wasn't until Dec. 10 that residents finally received a response from Toronto Fire Services; however, DuCôté explains it was the same short statement made to the media, outlining that the fire is still ongoing.

DuCôté says residents were not expecting perfect answers, but they wanted consistent updates and some insight into what was being done behind the scenes. 

Bistak also recalls a major moment of miscommunication at the hotel, waiting to speak with Toronto Emergency Services and the Canadian Red Cross, each directing them to the other. They were forced to wait in long lines with no clear answers, and told their case was too complicated to handle because they entered the system late.

Despite the fire now declared inactive, residents still can't return home until it's deemed legally safe. 

Residents have struggled to get clear information on housing support. Some were able to stay in hotels through insurance or short-term arrangements coordinated by the Red Cross, but availability is limited in the thick of the holiday season. 

Bistak explains a sad scene inside the Don Valley Hotel, where many displaced seniors were left isolated.

"Elderly people were traumatized to stay in their hotel room by themselves. They bundled themselves in jackets and winter coats, and preferred to sit in the frigid hotel lobby just to feel connected with others," she says.

DuCôté is wondering what the City can do to help residents. "Can they help cover the cost of renting an apartment, or provide other support for those who have nowhere else to go?" she asks, adding that some people have ended up in shelters or relying on TTC warming buses.

The lack of support has left many residents struggling to secure safe, temporary housing. 

"Hundreds and hundreds of people are being impacted in this crisis, and we feel forgotten," she says. 

With fire operations complete, the property management company of the two buildings will begin engineering assessments, and residents will receive updates on next steps once the City reviews the findings. 

blogTO has reached out to property management but has not received a response at the time of this article's publication.