Northbound DVP Closed for Demolition of Building Damaged in Suspicious Fire

Demolition Closes Northbound Lanes of the Don Valley Parkway After a Suspicious Commercial Building Fire

A severely damaged commercial building located approximately nine metres from the edge of the Don Valley Parkway is scheduled for demolition on Thursday night, prompting an overnight closure of the highway’s northbound lanes, CTV News reported. The emergency work follows a massive three-alarm fire that tore through the vacant structure in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood late Wednesday evening.

City officials announced that the northbound DVP will be completely blocked from the eastbound Gardiner Expressway at Jarvis Street up to Dundas Street starting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, with normal traffic expected to resume by 6 a.m. on Friday. According to Toronto Fire Services Chief Jim Jessop, bringing heavy machinery in to systematically take down portions of the building is necessary to ensure public safety and allow firefighters to safely access hot spots and conduct primary and secondary searches.

Emergency Response and Overnight Highway Closures

Fire crews first received multiple 911 calls reporting heavy smoke and flames coming from 2 Matilda St. just after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered intense flames shooting through the roof of the structure, which previously housed a live event space and a coffee company. The incident commander quickly escalated the blaze to a third alarm as crews deployed master streams and aerial equipment, including Tower 1, to surround the burning building. Temporary lane closures on the DVP and the Gardiner Expressway were implemented immediately on Wednesday night to accommodate high-capacity firefighting equipment.

The city’s transportation services general manager, Ashley Curtis, explained during a Thursday news conference that the building sits approximately 30 feet from the highway edge, making a full roadway closure mandatory during the demolition process. Alongside the DVP shutdown, the Don Roadway, Eastern Avenue, and Queen Street ramps remain closed to motorists. Detour signage and traffic agents have been deployed to assist drivers traveling through the area during the overnight operations.

Investigation Into Suspicious Circumstances and Prior Property Violations

While the fire is out, investigators remain on the scene to determine the exact origin and cause of the blaze. Toronto police confirmed on Thursday morning that the fire is being investigated as suspicious. Toronto Fire’s investigations division is leading the probe with assistance from local police, while the Office of the Fire Marshal was notified but declined to attend the site.

Municipal licensing records indicate that the vacant property has faced multiple administrative orders since 2020. Sean McGown, executive director of Municipal Licensing and Standards at the City of Toronto, stated that the city received 10 complaints regarding the address over the last six years, including two related to waste, two concerning graffiti, and six regarding the property being unoccupied. While property owners are legally required to secure vacant buildings against unauthorized entry 24/7 and disconnect them from utilities, city officials confirmed that previous orders to secure the structure had been met, though two open orders regarding waste and graffiti remained active.

Frequently Asked Questions About the DVP Demolition and Fire

Why is the Don Valley Parkway being closed for the demolition?

Because the destroyed building at 2 Matilda St. sits only about nine metres away from the edge of the highway, City of Toronto transportation officials stated that the roadway must be shut down during the operation to protect the traveling public and demolition crews from structural collapses.

Were there any injuries reported during the incident?

Toronto paramedics transported one police officer to the hospital with minor injuries sustained at the scene, while another man in his 30s was also taken to the hospital. Chief Jim Jessop noted that no one was inside the building when firefighters initially arrived.

Who is investigating the cause of the fire?

The Toronto Fire Services investigations division is leading the inquiry alongside Toronto police, who have officially deemed the three-alarm blaze suspicious. The Office of the Fire Marshal was notified of the incident but declined to dispatch investigators to the scene.

When will the closed sections of the DVP reopen to drivers?

The northbound lanes of the DVP from the Gardiner Expressway to Dundas Street are scheduled to reopen to motorists at 6 a.m. on Friday following the completion of overnight demolition and clearance work.

More on this story: Fire Destroys Abandoned Toronto Building and Shuts Down Traffic