Toronto Fire Services says no injuries have been reported after a three-alarm fire broke out at a vacant heritage house in the city's Garden District.
Firefighters say it appears the fire started shortly after 5 a.m. on the second floor of the home on Jarvis Street, near Carlton Street, and the fire was upgraded to a three-alarm shortly before 7 a.m.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze for the better part of Monday, only finishing putting out hot spots at around 4:30 p.m.
As a result, crews have not yet been able to enter the building to conduct a thorough search.
“We haven’t fully finished firefighting operations yet and the floors will be all compromised so getting staff in there to do a search is going to be difficult today,” Platoon Chief Don Beam told CP24 on Monday afternoon.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined but Beam told CP24 that it is considered suspicious because the home was vacant at the time and the power was shut off.
Originally built in 1865, the home was once occupied by former medical officer of health and Member of Parliament Dr.Charles Sheard. According to a 2012 staff report on the home, Sheard was related to a number of other prominent Torontonians, including former mayor Joseph Sheard (1871-1872).
Officials with the Office of the Fire Marshal are on scene and are awaiting the arrival of engineer to determine whether the building is safe to enter.
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