TPR Now — Hamilton civic affairs
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Updates
Globe and Mail Report: “Grifols pauses plasma collection at Canada donation centres”
The for-profit plasma collection company operates a site in East Hamilton.
Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe Statement on Fire at 256 Gage Avenue South
The following statement was issued by Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe at 2:58 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2026:
At approximately 4:20 a.m. this morning the Hamilton Fire Department received a report of a structure fire in the area of Gage Avenue South and Cumberland Avenue East in the City’s east end. First arriving crews reported heavy smoke and visible fire through the roof of a large warehouse building located at 256 Gage Avenue South. The structure was the former National Grocers Cash and Carry warehouse. The alarm was immediately upgraded to a multiple alarm bringing resources from across the City to the scene. Firefighters quickly entered the building to begin search and rescue and fire fighting operations. They reported heavy fire and high heat in the southeast corner of the warehouse and that the building was filled with a large volume of mixed combustibles. Shortly after firefighters had made entry a partial roof collapse occurred and all firefighters inside the building were ordered out. Firefighting was changed to a defensive exterior operation, with two aerial ladders utilized, along with large volume hand lines and a ground monitor. During exterior firefighting operations an additional section of the roof at the southeast corner collapsed, making it difficult to extinguish trapped fire. The warehouse has sustained significant damage, with estimates in the $750,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 range. No injuries have been reported. The fire is considered to be suspicious, and the Ontario Fire Marshals Office and Hamilton Police Service have been notified. At the time of this writing, firefighters remain on scene working to extinguish the remaining hot spots.
The City of Hamilton does not publish Fire Department statements on its website.
Hamilton Public Health Releases Assessment of Earlier July Black Soot Event
“Based on an assessment of available data, including the results of the fallout material analysis by the MECP and the limited duration of the early July event, Hamilton Public Health concludes that the event does not pose long-term health risks to the public.”
This is the statement issued by Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson early today regarding the early July black particulate event that is more commonly known as black soot.
Dr. Richardson’s written statement continued, “This short-term event isn’t expected to have long-term health risks on its own. However, the event contributes to the existing burden on the airshed, particularly the disproportionate impacts experienced in the north end of Hamilton.”
Hamilton Public Health provides feature details, including its measurement data, on a webpage dedicated to the event.
No Injuries in Cannon Street East House Fire
Last Updated: 4:15 p.m.
4:15 p.m.A neighbour informs me there are no injuries. The house fire was quickly contained by the first arriving Hamilton Fire Department units.
A photo from Cannon Street East following a house fire on August 13, 2026. 
A photo from Cannon Street East following a house fire on August 13, 2026. 3:55 p.m.
Cannon Street is CLOSED between Lottridge Street and Barnesdale Avenue due to a structure fire. The nearest landmarks are Sherman Avenue, which is one block west of Barnesdale Avenue, and Hamilton Stadium, which is one block east of Lottridge Street.
HSR Route 3-Cannon buses are detouring. #3 buses are not servicing stops on Cannon between Barnesdale Avenue and Gage Avenue.
The Fire Department’s data portal states 3:30 p.m. as the time of initial dispatch.
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