Ontario Paint & Wallpaper store burned out

Historic buildings were constructed in 1913 and loss was total

By Bulletin Staff –

12 hours after they were called, firefighters continue to cool and guard the fire site.

At about 2 a.m. Oct. 20 firefighters converged on three blazing 3-storey historic building on Queen East. Because it housed paints, the fire was especially strong and the call rapidly became a 7-alarm fire, bringing in 40 fire department units from across Toronto.

After four hours, the fire was under control. Nearby residents had been evacuated from their homes and housed on a TTC bus for the duration of the extinguishing effort.

Some 12 hours after the firefighting effort begain, fire crews were still hosing the site down.

The building was built in 1913 and is a total loss. No word on the cause of the fires.