Toronto shuts down Drake ice block frenzy over 'public safety' concerns

Drake's viral ice block stunt has been shut down by the City of Toronto over public safety concerns, as it turns out that bringing chainsaws and blowtorches to a downtown Toronto parking lot isn't the type of behaviour welcomed by locals.

A surface parking lot at 81 Bond St. was transformed into a media circus this week after hometown rapper Drake had a stack of massive ice blocks assembled at the site, with his new Iceman album release date hidden within.

By Tuesday afternoon, locals had descended on the ice blocks using whatever means available to melt and chip away at the blocks, in some cases even resorting to equipment like chainsaws and blowtorches in an attempt to break through the frozen fortress.

While the demented Willy Wonka-esque exercise in fandom officially wrapped up Tuesday afternoon when a streamer discovered a bag within the ice blocks promising a May 15 album release date, fans continued to swarm the scene into the evening hours — drawing complaints from locals.

Just after 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, the City of Toronto announced that Toronto Fire Services would be melting away the blocks due to community complaints " of individuals starting fires using open flames and flammable liquids."

"Several individuals are climbing on and around the slippery ice structure with pickaxes," reads the City's statement, adding that "The use of open flames and flammable liquids in an uncontrolled environment poses a risk to the public."

The City announced that Toronto Fire Services "will be initiating measures under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act to mitigate the risk to public safety."

As of Wednesday morning, fire crews continue to pump hot water on the ice blocks to melt them away.

@blogto

Drake’s Ice sculpture is officially gone! 👀 Did you check it out yesterday? 🤔

♬ Notícia Urgente - Rodriggo Júnior

According to Fire Chief Jim Jessop, "Toronto Fire Services was alerted to dangerous and unsafe activities taking place at 81 Bond Street pertaining to the large ice installation. Large numbers of individuals have gathered to attempt to melt the ice using flammable liquids, and open flames in an uncontrolled environment which results in an immediate threat to life."