Three companies facing charges after Thorncliffe Park condo fire: Toronto fire chief

TORONTO — Toronto fire chief Jim Jessop says a construction firm and two property companies are facing charges after a fire that lasted nearly three weeks at two highrise buildings and displaced more than 200 residents late last year.

The fire, which was burning the combustible particle board placed in an expansion joint between 11 Thorncliffe Park Drive and 21 Overlea Boulevard, started on Nov. 27 and was not extinguished until Dec. 15 due to the complexity of the blaze.

Jessop says investigators have determined there was construction at the Thorncliffe Park building and ignition sources were allegedly being used near combustible materials, causing the fire to ignite.

Jessop alleges Toronto firefighters weren’t notified for more than 30 minutes after the fire started.

He says PFC Construction Inc., is facing multiple charges in violation of the Ontario Fire Code, including failing to protect combustible materials from ignition sources during hot surface applications and failing to conduct a fire watch.

Jessop says the Metropolitan Toronto Condominium Corporation 956 and their company Dell Property Management Inc., have also been charged with failing to implement the building’s fire safety plan, which requires the fire department to be contacted upon activation of the building fire alarm system.

A total of 408 units had to be evacuated during the fire, and the city said at the time that 239 people from 119 households were staying in hotel rooms.

Jessop says the three defendants are scheduled to appear in court later this month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2026.

The Canadian Press