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Explosion Rocks Toronto's East End
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by Mike Wood | July 20, 2008 at 01:20 pm
3324 views | 65 Recommendations | 32 comments
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More than a hundred Firefighters, 45 trucks and 2 Hazmat units were at the scene of a five-alarm blaze at an apartment building on Secord Avenue, just NW of Dawes Road and Danforth Avenue today.
The fire broke out just before 11:00AM with a hydro vault on the first floor of the 21-storey building exploding shortly after Firefighters arrived, sending six to hospital - three with second degree burns.
A resident evacuating the building was also taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Residents from the 300 unit building along with a nearby townhouse complex were evacuated to the nearby Secord Elementary School as a precaution due to the toxic smoke.
According to Toronto Fire Chief Bill Stewart the fireball from the explosion blew the hydro vault room doors off, moved nearby parked cars, and a fire truck on scene at the time was lifted off the ground.
Officials say the explosion may have caused significant damage to the building.
"If they (residents) return tonight is dependent on the situation. They have no hydro and no water," Stewart said.
A structural engineer was expected to arrive to assess the damage before allowing residents to return to the building.
The cause of the fire was still undetermined.
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Mike Wood
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (32)
at 13:22 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:39 on July 20th, 2008
Thank you!
at 13:28 on July 20th, 2008
Great coverage, Mister Wood.
at 13:39 on July 20th, 2008
Thanks Jordan!
at 13:30 on July 20th, 2008
Excellent coverage. Thanks for the story and photos, and keep us updated if anything more develops.
at 13:38 on July 20th, 2008
I'll try to get back over there later for some damage shots and more info. They wouldn’t let the media anywhere near it at the time.
Thanks for the GS!
at 13:42 on July 20th, 2008
Great work Mike.
at 13:56 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:00 on July 20th, 2008
I thought this was from a local newspaper. Not sure if you are a paid reporter because the article is well written, professional, and now I have a new place to get the news. Thanks!! Oh and I just looked up "2 secord ave explosion" (without quotes) and got your article first. Coolio.
at 14:06 on July 20th, 2008
Google indexes NP's pages super fast...sometimes within 3 or 4 hours. That's fast. The important thing is that Google really loves NP.
at 14:24 on July 20th, 2008
Thanks for the wonderful comment!
I'm glad you found it. NP is a great place and always has the latest news!
at 14:00 on July 20th, 2008
I looked it up in Google, not here, since I didn't know this web site existed.
at 14:05 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:19 on July 20th, 2008
Thank you Barry!
at 05:03 on July 21st, 2008
The cause of the fires have been determined to be caused by transformers, Ontario is noted for power outages and brownouts when summer temperatures hit an all time high and air conditioners run 24/7. Certainly not earth shattering, where similar instances are common in large cities.
Let's hope these hydro transformers are not filled with PCBs, but based on the age of the building, pre 1980, I think it is a safe bet they may be.
Best for you not to wait to find out, and do it yourself. PCBs are a known carcinogen and Burning of these PCB oils, used to cool these Hydro transformers, will ten fold the hazard in the air, certainly a concern to all who live nearby, or attend the nearby school or grocery stores produce section.
PCBs particulate can travel pretty far in the outdoor airstream, floating around and sticking to everything it touches.
Best for those who live near that neighbourhood or school in a 2 block radius, is to grab a few pairs of Latex Gloves, a Bottle of Hexane (from your local lab) and some sterile gauze wipes and small glass vial or sandwich baggies, wet the gauze with hexane and wipe down a 30cmx30cm (1square foot) surface from the outside and inside of your home, then take the hexane moistened gauze you used to wipe down the area you sampled then bag it and mark it, making sure to indicate each area sampled individually, in other words to make sure to indicate where you took each individual sample from, and get them to a local analytical lab pronto for analysis, especially if you have kids and animals. Best place to do your wipes if you have central air is wipe around the air conditioning air intake coil, or window AC, as well as your car windshield, and home windows. If it shows PCBs, I would be calling my Insurance company to get your place cleaned up. PRONTO~ If you do not want to do it yourself, calling your local Health unit may help, but don't hold your breath waiting for them to do it for you.
Below is my piece on this
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/toronto-hydro-transformers-catch-fire-what-you-dont-know-pcbs#comment-132213
Below is the update on this story
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=a5c9c8a4-f25c-4cc9-9798-42e518b2d142
at 17:54 on July 21st, 2008
Thanks for the links Barry.
The Fire Marshal assured us yesterday there were no PCB's which so far is the only good news out of this.
at 14:21 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, great coverage and slideshow!
at 15:23 on July 20th, 2008
Thanks Rhonda!
at 16:03 on July 20th, 2008
You are very welcome, Mike!
at 15:58 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 16:12 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 16:59 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff. good on the scene reporting.
at 17:45 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 18:43 on July 20th, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 18:44 on July 20th, 2008
Don't forget, Mike has done some great original reporting on indigenous issues, too.
at 17:55 on July 21st, 2008
WOW! Thanks PEP!
at 20:02 on July 20th, 2008
Great story and pics, I myself live nearby and heard/felt the explosion. Definately frightening knowing that it can happen so nearby. Thanks for the update!
at 21:33 on July 20th, 2008
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at 02:58 on July 21st, 2008
Mike Wood, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 09:12 on July 21st, 2008
This is the third (a least) transformer fire in the immediate area in the last 2 years. Generally there's very little coverage; nice to see something a little more in depth.