Fire at Pacific Avenue warehouse near Dundas St. West at the Canadian General Electric which was used to warehouse products from the company’s Royce Avenue plant started on January 4th 1952 at 9:15 AM in the morning blowing heavy clouds of smoke into the air. Flames shot from the front windows completely across the street a one period of the fire.

From 150 feet back from the fire you could feel the heat. The fire would rip through the 100 x 200 foot brick building destroying it completely. 100 police persons were required to keep the watching crowd of thousands in control.

The building had contained a number of highly combustible cartons containing radio cabinets, television sets.

Capt. John Calhoun, Firemen Bill Bee and Russell Rae, were trapped for a time under the debris of the rear wall which collapsed on them. The damage was considered to be over $1 million in the warehouse which is formally used as a woodworking plant.

Detail of photo, Canadian General Electric Co., warehouse, Pacific Ave., w. side, betw. Annette & Dundas Sts.; aftermath of fire of 4 January 1952 photographed by James Salmon.