5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CN TOWER FIRE

1 WHAT HAPPENED?

Toronto Fire Services responded early Wednesday to an electrical fire at the very top of the CN Tower. The tower contains electrical wiring, cables and broadcast equipment for radio and TV stations. The wires are contained in metal or plastic tubes that range in size from ¾ of an inch to six inches in diameter. When firefighters got up there, one of the tubes was melting.

2 WHO NOTICED IT?

A keen- eyed CN Tower employee noticed a warning light come on and sent an electrician to investigate, then called the fire department. A CN engineer went up to shut the power off, and then firefighters were cleared to go up.

3 DID FIREFIGHTERS CLIMB UP THERE?

First, firefighters took an elevator to the observation deck. Then another elevator to the SkyPod. And no, you’re not supposed to use elevators in a fire, but the CN Tower is different because you’re technically on the outside of the building and take in fresh air. From the SkyPod, it was a 100- foot climb up a ladder in a three- foot-wide tube — in firefighting equipment.

4 HOW DID THEY PUT IT OUT?

Firefighters used a CO2 extinguisher, which is better than water for putting out electrical fires. The firefighters also couldn’t use their normal breathing apparatus due to the cramped nature of the climb. Instead, they had to affix an air hose to their face, which ran down the ladder to oxygen canisters.

5 CAN I STILL BOOK MY EDGEWALK?

Firefighters cut out the damaged wiring, and it’s up to the broadcasters who use it to fix it. The incident may still be affecting some media, but the rest of the tower is open as usual. Toronto Fire chief information officer Stephan Powell said he can’t remember a fire ever breaking out in the CN Tower before.