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In 2010, a terrifying blaze tore through the high-rise apartments at 200 Wellesley Street East in Toronto, pushing firefighters and resources to their absolute limits. Crews faced intense heat, heavy smoke, and severe challenges with stairwell access and evacuation on upper floors, making it one of the city’s most complex high-rise fires. The incident exposed critical gaps in aerial operations, communications, and staging under extreme conditions, forcing a hard look at the realities of high-rise firefighting.
The “Fire in the Sky” would go on to shape high-rise firefighting in Toronto forever, leading to significant changes in training, equipment, and operational guidelines. From improved stairwell pressurization and backup air systems to refined accountability and evacuation protocols, the lessons from 200 Wellesley became a turning point for the service and a reminder of the constant need to adapt, prepare, and protect both firefighters and residents in the vertical cities we serve.
Connect with Brent Brooks HERE
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By Pete Wakefield5
33 ratings
In 2010, a terrifying blaze tore through the high-rise apartments at 200 Wellesley Street East in Toronto, pushing firefighters and resources to their absolute limits. Crews faced intense heat, heavy smoke, and severe challenges with stairwell access and evacuation on upper floors, making it one of the city’s most complex high-rise fires. The incident exposed critical gaps in aerial operations, communications, and staging under extreme conditions, forcing a hard look at the realities of high-rise firefighting.
The “Fire in the Sky” would go on to shape high-rise firefighting in Toronto forever, leading to significant changes in training, equipment, and operational guidelines. From improved stairwell pressurization and backup air systems to refined accountability and evacuation protocols, the lessons from 200 Wellesley became a turning point for the service and a reminder of the constant need to adapt, prepare, and protect both firefighters and residents in the vertical cities we serve.
Connect with Brent Brooks HERE
ACCESS THE PODCAST LIBRARY & EVERY EPISODE, DEBRIEF & DOCUMENT CLICK HERE
PODCAST GIFT - Get your FREE subscription to essential Firefighting publications HERE
A big thanks to our partners for supporting this episode.
Send us a text
Support the show
***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***
Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

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