Three-alarm fire in Riverdale deemed suspicious by Toronto police

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Fire crews battled a three-alarm blaze in Toronto on Wednesday night that temporarily shut down parts of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway, Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop said on X.

Toronto Fire is investigating after a three-alarm blaze tore through an abandoned building in Riverside, near Matilda and Munro Sts., around 9:37 p.m., Toronto Police said on X.

Police confirmed to the Toronto Sun on Thursday that the fire has been deemed suspicious.

What happened to the building?

The fire was “quickly escalated” to a three-alarm blaze after “heavy, heavy flames” were seen shooting out of the roof of the old Jam Factory, Jessop said at the scene, per CTV News.

Sections of the building’s walls and ceilings have crumbled, he added, noting that the building had been vacant “for a number of years.”

“The bulk of the fire has been knocked down. We have had a number of collapses of the wall and the ceiling, and we are continuing to deal with hot spots,” Jessop detailed.

No injuries were reported, though Toronto paramedics said one police officer was taken to hospital for minor smoke inhalation.

Toronto Fire said on X that the fire is out, but crews and investigators remain at the scene.

Roads have since reopened

Several road closures shut down the area, including the northbound DVP at Lakeshore Blvd., and the eastbound Gardiner at Jarvis St., as crews battled the blaze.

The Bay Street on-ramp was also closed to the Gardiner, while Dundas St. E. at Carroll St. and Munro and Davies Sts. were also closed.

Roads reopened after 3 a.m. Thursday on the Gardiner Expressway at Jarvis Street and northbound lanes of the Don Valley Parkway at Don Roadway.

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