We want to go home,' residents say as Thorncliffe Park blaze continues for 6th day | CBC Accessibility

"Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Toronto Fire Services Chief Jim Jessop said city engineers have recommended causing significant damage to units with the adjoining burning wall. We understand this is hard to hear for those impacted, he said. We know residents are eager to return home and we share that urgency, but safety must come first. Jessop has called the five-alarm blaze, which originally started on Nov. 27, one of the more complex he's seen in his career."

"The fire has displaced residents in the buildings and many are now staying in hotel rooms while they wait to be told when they can return. Jessop said the building will remain evacuated until further notice and while he can't provide a specific timeframe, it will be at least until next week. Firefighting crews are continuing to meet with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to explore options other than destruction."

"Residents anxious to go home For those displaced, going home can't come soon enough. Resident Jacqui Julian says though they're getting food and shelter at the hotel, she's tired. "We want to go home," Julian said. Ines Caparas, another displaced resident, said she's thankful no one has been hurt and grateful to those working around the clock to extinguish the blaze. "It's not everyday that life is sailing smoothly. There is a bumpy road sometimes," she said."

A five-alarm fire that began Nov. 27 continues to burn between adjoining Thorncliffe Park buildings, with the burning material only about two inches wide. City engineers and fire crews recommended intentionally damaging units and destroying the adjoining wall to access and extinguish the blaze because water and other agents cannot reach the sandwiched material otherwise. The buildings remain evacuated and displaced residents are staying in hotels; no return date is available but the evacuation will last at least until next week. Fire crews continue consulting a multidisciplinary team of engineers while exploring alternatives. No injuries have been reported.

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