Northbound lanes of the Don Valley Parkway will face significant disruptions starting at 7:30 p.m. tonight as crews begin demolishing a structure at 2 Matilda Street. The closure, which spans from the Gardiner Expressway to Dundas Street, is intended to facilitate the removal of a building devastated by a suspicious three-alarm fire.
The 30-foot safety margin for DVP commuters
The proximity of the damaged structure to the highway necessitates a full shutdown of several key transit points. Ashley Curtis of the City of Toronto Transportation Services noted that the building sits only about 30 feet from the edge of the Don Valley Parkway. because of this narrow margin,the city is also closing the Don Roadway, Eastern Avenue,and Queen Street ramps to protect both motorists and demolition workers.
City officials are attempting to complete the heavy work overnight to minimize the impact on the morning commute. according to the report, the highway is expected to reopen to the public at 6 a.m. on Friday.
A suspicious three-alarm fire at 2 Matilda Street
The demolition follows a massive three-alarm fire that broke out at the historic Riverside warehouse shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop reported that firefighters were met with intense flames emerging from every opening of the building. To combat the heat, incident commanders utilized elevated devices and master streams to surround the structure with water.
While the fire was eventually contained , the incident resulted in a police officer being hospitalized with minor injuries. As reported by CP24, Toronto Police have officially deemed the blaze suspicious, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Tactical demolition of the vacant Riverside warehouse
Demolition crews will utilize heavy equipment to systematically dismantle portions of the building throughout the night. Chief Jessop explained that this controlled destruction is a prerequisite for further emergency operations, as it allows crews to finally conduct primary and secondary searches of the interior. Furthermore , removing the unstable structure allows fire suppression teams to reach the "point of loss" and ensure no hidden hot spots remain.
The building at 2 Matilda Street, which previously served as a coffee company headquarters and a live event space, had been sitting vacant for sevveral years. the sudden destruction of this historic Riverside landmark has raised concerns regarding the security and maintenance of long-vacant heritage properties in the city.
Why the Office of the Fire Marshal declined to attend
Despite the suspicious nature of the fire, several critical details regarding the origin and circumstances of the blaze remain unknown.. The Toronto Fire investigations division is currently leading a probe alongside Toronto Police to determine if foul play was involved. Notably, the Office of the Fire Marshal was notified of the incident but declined to attend, leaving the investigation primarily in the hands of municipal authorities.
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