Thick plumes of black smoke enveloped the Gardiner Expressway as a fire broke out near a makeshift homeless camp on Sunday afternoon.
Police said they were called to the area of Yonge Street and Lakeshore Boulevard West around 2 pm after receiving reports of a large fire coming from the tents under the westbound ramp to the Gardiner Expressway.
READ: Rebranding Toronto’s Homeless Shelters Masks Real Problem
Police said they also received reports of the sounds of explosions in the area, possibly from propane tanks that were located near the tents.
Just before 5 pm, police said the fire had been put out and Toronto Fire Services had conducted its "hot spots" check.
However, even once the fire was out, the eastbound Gardiner was closed at Bay Street while police, firefighters, and City of Toronto structural engineers investigated.
Thankfully, fire crews were able to get the fire out before anyone was hurt and the affected portion of the Gardiner Expressway has since reopened since yesterday's fire.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first fire at a homeless camp to happen in Toronto recently. On February 23, a fire broke out near Bayview Avenue and Corktown Common Trail and the following day, firefighters were called to a fire at a camp near the Gardiner Expressway and Jameson Avenue.
