Explosions cause commuter panic
Blasts, smoke in Toronto’s Financial District caused by hydro vault fire
Commuters in downtown Toronto were astonished Monday when plumes of dark smoke and sounds of explosions disrupted evening rush hour.
Toronto Fire Services say the cause was a fire in an underground hydro vault near King St. W. and Bay St.
The streets were filled with commuters heading home, and there were reports of people screaming when the explosions sounded. Others said they saw smoke billowing for hours. Muhammad Ammar, who works at Scotia Plaza just down the block, said he was frightened by the sounds of an explosion.
“I thought I was going to die,” he said.
No injuries were reported, and fire crews controlled and contained the fire, Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said.
But at around 8 p.m., Toronto Fire Services Capt. Adrian Ratushniak said the fire continued to burn.
A blast was initially heard just after 5 p.m. and witnesses say the noise was followed by clouds of smoke billowing from a street grate outside a Royal Bank office tower.
The smell of burning rubber and metal hung in the air as the tower was evacuated and police cleared the area of bystanders.
“We don’t know what’s happening, so if you please head east, head north, head south, just come off of King Street,” urged one officer.
More sounds of explosions were heard as late at 7:20 p.m.
Fire services reported around 7:45 p.m. that “heavy smoke” had been found in the underground PATH system.
Officials with Toronto Fire Services said it was too early to determine what caused the hydro vault fire.
“We don’t know the cause, it could be dampness, water or an aging hydro vault, or all of the above,” Platoon Chief Kevin Shaw told reporters.
With files from The Canadian Press