There a six alarm fire on Queen St W in Toronto which destroyed quite a few businesses early today.  Fortunately, the firefighters were able to get everyone out before there were injuries to residents.  I was a bit concerned that the Horseshoe was involved but apparently the fire was contained on the south side of the street.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_19772.aspx

 

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"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

I thought the same thing when I saw this story on CBC's website.  I even did a search to find out what the address of the Horseshoe.  There was apparently a record store that was destroyed that has been in the same family for decades.  They interviewed the fellow who owned the store and he was devastated.  It is always so sad when something that has been around for so long is destroyed.  Thank goodness nobody was hurt.

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Greg Keelor met Jim Cuddy and then I met you people. Serendipity is a marvellous thing.


"I guess I don't know if I believe in God but
I know a song can make you feel good once
in a while." ~Greg Keelor~

Bad as it was to lose so many old buildings, it's a freaking miracle that it wasn't catastrophic.

I used to live really close to the fire zone. I cannot imagine how the firefighters managed to contain the blaze. That whole area -- extremely old, sometimes rotten buildings -- people crammed in everywhere. It could have been bad.

The story doesn't mention if any firefighters were hurt. Surely some were.

Anyone from the board live in the area? All well? 

 

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borderline useless from hanging around

The fire was a number of blocks east of the Horseshoe (closer to Bathurst than Spadina) but you could see and smell the smoke for a good few miles.  I really feel for the business owners and the people who lived above the businesses - they've lost everything.  It sounds like that area will be closed to traffic for at least the rest of this week as they begin the cleanup.

Apparently, Mr. Duke, the patriarch of the Duke family cycle shop, was born in the apartment over the store.

http://dukescycle.ca/

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"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping