‘Nothing left’ after fire
Blaze destroys historic Ward’s Island clubhouse, café
The Ward’s Island Association Clubhouse, a historic community space on the Toronto Islands that hosted many weddings, and the popular Island Café located within has been destroyed after a large fire broke out early Sunday morning.
Toronto Fire Services said they received the call for a structural fire at the clubhouse on Ward’s Island at 2:20 a.m.
When fire crews arrived on scene, the building was “fully involved” in flames, Toronto fire said.
Firefighters fought the blaze outside the clubhouse and said the fire is now “knocked down” and crews are watching for hot spots in the rubble.
Toronto Fire said no injuries have been reported at this time.
Toronto fire Chief Matthew Pegg and Mayor Olivia Chow took a fire boat to attend the scene on Ward’s Island and visit those affected on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking to the media, Pegg said the “fully staffed” fire crew on the island arrived to the scene of the flames in less than five minutes and did “a marvellous job” at controlling the fire from spreading.
Pegg said mainland firefighters also assisted in battling the blaze and that crews will remain at the scene all night to continue their operations until “heavy equipment” can be brought in that will help determine the cause of the fire.
“Certainly a devastating loss for everyone on the island and all of the visitors. The Island Café is central to the operation there and is really a fixture, so my heart goes out to all of that,” Pegg said.
“There’s nothing left,” Chow told reporters when asked about what was left over after the blaze.
Chow said the burning of the decades old structure is “very sad” as it was a place where people gathered and made memories, but she added that the islanders are “resilient” and suspects that the fixture will “rise from the ash and be rebuilt.”
Chow said the community came out today, gave each other hugs and are supporting one another as they face this loss.
“It’s a really tight-knit community. They are very sad — they’re in shock. The owners of the café still believe that they can pick up and keep going while thinking about the summer. So that resiliency is wonderful,” she said.
The Ward’s Island Tennis Club, located close to the clubhouse, said in an email that the courts have been closed as the “significant” damage from the fire is being assessed.
“The community have lost a beloved historic building and community gathering space — and an island family has lost their business,” the email read. “The fire did not spread to homes in the vicinity” and members will be notified when repair plans and a reopening date will be determined.