A 3-alarm industrial fire is still raging in Toronto’s Leaside area Friday afternoon, Toronto fire said.
Crews were reportedly notified about the fire just after 12:10 p.m. and arrived six minutes after to find heavy smoke and flames in the area of Eglinton Avenue East and Laird Drive.
Officials initially reported that no one was injured, but in an update on X, Toronto fire now say one person who worked in the building was transported to hospital with minor injuries.
Platoon Chief Paul O’Brien addressed media at 2:30 p.m. in front of a Toronto Fire Services command vehicle at the intersection of Commercial Road and Laird Drive.
O’Brien said the fire has been knocked down and that crews are now dealing with some hotspots. It did not spread to any other buildings and there is no danger to the neighbourhood, he added.
Fire services will be in the area for the next 24 hours to maintain a firewatch on the structure.
Crews reportedly dealt with challenging intense heat and heavy smoke conditions.
“The atmosphere and temperature today isn’t helping the crews,” O’Brien said.
Wind was reportedly a factor as well, especially with the west side of the building opened up.
O’Brien stated that it was a wind-driven fire.
He was unable to confirm what the building is used for or the materials the structure is made of, saying that these are things the investigation will address.