Arson suspected in Richmond Street building fire: Toronto police

A gas-fuelled fire that caused multiple building evacuations in downtown Toronto on Wednesday is being investigated as arson, Toronto fire and police say.

Toronto police posted on X, formerly Twitter, that they received reports of a two-alarm fire in the garage of a building near Queen Street W. and Peter Street around 8:40 p.m.

Toronto Fire Service confirmed the fire was at 330 Richmond Street W., where heavy flames werevisible at the ground floor level. Capt. Dan Vieira said there was a natural gas leak in the building that was feeding the fire.

Enbridge was called to the scene and the gas was shut off, fire servicessaid.

In the meantime, the building and surrounding buildings were evacuated, police said on X.

Const. Sinderela Chung with Toronto police said in an email Friday that the fire is now being investigated as an act of arson. As the investigation is ongoing, she said, police would give no further updates.

Around 10 p.m., fire services reported the fire had been extinguished and the gas leak was repaired.

No one was injured, according to emergency officials.