Levy Auto Parts - 1400 Weston Road

November 14, 1972 - July 1, 1988 - January 15, 1989

One thing common to almost every York Fire Fighter hired before 1989, was at least one trip to a large fire at Levy Auto Parts at 1400 Weston Road, just west of Jane Street. Levy's was a sprawling 10 acre site with buildings, quonset huts, sheds and scrap. The property backed onto a large ravine where PCB's, propane, and flammable liquids shared space with auto parts and military surplus vehicles, scrap and munitions.

The last of these large fires, pictured here, occured when the property was slated for demolition and clearing to accommodate a new housing development. Winds swept the flames and embers across the property, and into nearby residential areas. All available York Fire Fighters were joined by three neighbouring fire departments to form a crew of over sixty fire fighters at the scene.

November 14, 1972

A similar fire, pictured here, lit up the night sky on November 14, 1972. Crews were called out at 3:55 p.m., and remained on the scene until 9:36 a.m. on November 16th. Seventeen men were called in on emergency callback. The fire caused an estimated $100,000.00 damage to buildings with a further $600,000.00 damage to contents.

Crews used 950,000 gallons of water, but only five Scott Air Pacs at the call.

July 1, 1988

Crews also responded to a second alarm fire on Canada Day in 1998. The fire, believed to have been started in a propane cylinder, was contained to several of the sheds near the Weston Road side of the property.

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