Total cost for blaze that destroyed 71 housing units in Vaughan still unknown

Canada.constructconnect.com
April 19, 2023

Almost a week after a fire tore through a residential subdivision under construction in Vaughan, Ont. the cause is still unknown and the investigation continues.

“The OFM (Office of the Fire Marshal) are currently responsible for the investigation of this fire and have not concluded the investigation as of now,” said Vaughan Deputy Fire Chief Grant Moffatt in an email to the Daily Commercial News on April 18.

The dollar lost estimate is also not known at this time, he added.

Approximately 71 housing units under construction, including 32 detached homes and 21 townhouses, were damaged or destroyed in a massive fire in the area of Pine Valley Drive and Teston Road on April 12.

It burned for hours and it took more than 50 firefighters more than two-and-a-half hours to get the fire under control. In all 13 trucks and four chief officers were on scene to battle the blaze. Crews remained on scene until the following day to ensure the fire was out.

When emergency crews arrived on scene around 1 p.m. a few homes were impacted but due to the windy and warm weather conditions the fire quickly spread to the neighbouring units.

Two firefighters were taken to hospital with minor injuries. No other injuries were reported as a result of the incident. There were construction workers present at the time of the fire.