An abandoned building in Riverside was destroyed after a large fire broke out Wednesday night. Toronto Fire Services Chief Jim Jessop said crews got several calls shortly after 9:30 p.m. for a structure fire at 2 Matilda St., east of the Don Valley Parkway. “Upon arrival, we were met with heavy, heavy flames and fire coming out through the roof,” Jessop said. “It was quickly escalated to a third alarm.” The chief said northbound DVP and portions of Queen Street and Dundas Street had to be closed to allow crews to surround the building and fight the fire. One northbound lane of the DVP remains closed Thursday and the Queen Street on-ramp has also been shut down. “The bulk of the fire has been knocked down. We have had a number of collapses of the wall and the ceiling, and we are continuing to deal with hot spots,” Jessop said. Paramedics say one police officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The building, which used to house a live event space and a coffee company, has been vacant for years, the chief said. The cause, origin and circumstances of the fire are under investigation.
