Toronto, Ontario — May 4, 2018 — On Tuesday, breathless reports began to emerge that a fire that broken out in an Etobicoke bodyshop with employees still inside. Barely making it to safety, firefighters could not prevent the collapse of the garage’s roof. Unfortunately for the reporters – and the churnalists who drew ‘inspiration’ from these original reports – there was no bodyshop fire.
Yes, there was a fire on Albion, in which there were no injuries. Yes, a garage roof did collapse, and the business in question was involved in the automotive aftermarket. That is where the similarities between the truth and the news reports end.
The business that burned down was a company that mostly sells tires and does not perform repairs. While it may seem like a distinction without a difference to some reporters, the whole incident a little more annoying to Nick Jalaf, owner of Nanak’s Collision Centre.
As the collision repair facility in the same complex as the tire shop, he wants it to be clear that the fire – and the lingering smell of burnt rubber – had nothing to do with his business. As for why the case of mistaken identity began, he has a pretty good idea of why things became confused.
“Firefighters closed the roads so no one could get too close. While the tire shop does not have a sign, the bodyshop does and the reporters just assumed it was us.”
Unfortunately for Jalaf, the reports were the least of his concerns. Beyond the smell, his business – which, along with the tire shop, is part of a 21-unit building – was without electricity until Thursday afternoon. The whole building remains without water.
