Discarded cigarette causes $1 million fire at luxury Vaughan condo
Residents from several units unable to return to their homes

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 14, 2018
Lisa Queen

A cigarette improperly discarded on an eighth floor balcony caused a $1-million high rise fire in Vaughan Jan. 13, Chief Larry Bentley said.

“It was a significant fire that was wind-driven and had the potential to enter the floors above and to units laterally because of the wind,” he said.

“It broke the glass and entered the unit. The unit is totally destroyed. And it was protected by a sprinkler system.”

Many residents are still unable to return to their units at the luxury condo building at 9255 Jane St. north of Rutherford Road following the fire, which broke out at about 2:40 p.m.

The fire started on a balcony on the eighth floor of the 17-storey building, deputy fire chief Deryn Rizzi said.

“It was pretty significant,” she said, adding damage is expected to be more than $1 million.

“It appears the cause of the fire would be improperly discarded smoking material. It started on the balcony. There was some combustible materials being stored on a balcony. The glass broke and so then the fire made its way into the actual unit.”

The building was evacuated as 32 firefighters brought the blaze under control in frigid temperatures

Residents of most units were allowed back into their units at about 7:30 p.m.

But because of fire, smoke and water damage, residents in eight units on the eighth floor, eight units on the seventh floor and units on the fifth and sixth floor have not been able to return to their homes, Rizzi said.

About 15 firefighters returned to the building Jan. 14 to go door to door as part of a public education blitz called After the Heat to warn residents about fire risks.

“Once we have a fire, the public is more receptive to our fire and life safety messaging. We really want people to understand the dangers of discarding smoking material,” Rizzi said.

“We do know it was smoking materials that started this fire so we really wanted to provide that public education message to every resident of this building.”

Firefighters will also be delivering the message in coming days to residents of three neighbouring buildings in the same complex, Rizzi said.

On Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., the fire department will host a public information session at 9255 Jane St.