At 4:35 pm, Toronto Fire Services (TFS) were dispatched to Victoria College Building, also known to students as “Old Vic.” According to TFS, the flame has now been extinguished and firefighters are “wrapping up” at the scene. No injuries have been reported. 

Before the fire was out, smoke could be seen coming from the basement of the building. In a phone call with TFS, a spokesperson said that an investigation is needed to determine the source of the fire.  

17 units were dispatched to Victoria College, including a hazmat truck, six pumper trucks, and a highrise truck. TFS noted that hazmat trucks are commonly dispatched to assess air quality. 

First year political science student Sloane Overdorf was at Caffiends in Victoria College when the initial fire alarm went off. Overdorf wrote to The Varsity, “The first floor already smelled like smoke before the alarm went off, and I had to go by the stairs leading to the basement to leave and smoke was already creeping up.”

Overdorf also saw firefighters funneling a hose to the basement, sawing through the bars and breaking the window in the process. 

The three-storey brick and stucco Victoria College Building was constructed from 1832 to 1836, and is now 190 years old. 

U of T did not immediately respond to request for comment.