Mayor John Tory is appealing to the public to help support the more than 1,500 people displaced by a fire in St. James Town last week, highlighting the need for long-term accommodations and clothing for children preparing to head back to school.

“This is the time when we need the people of Toronto to help us,” Tory told a news conference at city hall Tuesday. He was flanked by area councillor Lucy Troisi, Toronto Fire chief Matthew Pegg and city manager Chris Murray among other officials.

Tory said there’s an urgent need for at least 320 sets of clothing and shoes for children ages 4 to 16, whose clothes retrieved from their apartments smell “so much like smoke.”

Residents were forced from 650 Parliament St. last week after a six-alarm fire sent smoke throughout the building. On Monday, residents waited in long lines to be escorted into the building to collect necessary belongings, but the city has said they likely won’t be able move back in for months.

The lineup of people waiting to get inside the building was much shorter on Tuesday, and the process seemed to move faster. Occasionally, as was the case Monday, some of the residents complained about having to sign a waiver agreeing not to sue the property owners in case something happens in the visiting process.

Many others, like Isabelita Veniegas and her family, signed it without really understanding it, she said, just because they needed to get their stuff out of the apartment.

“It is hot in there. It smells very bad, too,” said Veniegas, sitting outside the building with her husband, Robert Cruz, and daughter Jessabel, waiting for a ride to take their luggage to their temporary residence — a hotel room at a nearby Marriott.

They said they were lucky to get a place in town, having heard stories of some of their fellow residents who’ve been booked into places as far away as Brampton and Guelph.

“We’re worried, because we don’t know what’s next,” said Veniegas, noting they were told they will only stay in the hotels for 14 days. “We’re not going to live in the streets, for sure, I hope.”

Added her daughter Jessabel: “We’ve become the NPAs — no permanent address.”

At the news conference, Tory appealed for accommodations, saying many residents are currently staying in hotels and motels across the city, but those places cannot host them indefinitely.

There are “hundreds” of unused suites and rooms all over the city, Tory said, and he urged their owners to help host people in need.

Tory said he has met with the building’s owners and landlord, and made it clear to them that necessary repairs should be done as fast as possible in order to get tenants back in their units.

“The tenants, as I’ve said previously, had nothing to do with the fire,” he said, noting there seems to have been very little damage to the units themselves.

Pegg said the cause of the fire is still being investigated, but a preliminary assessment indicates there was a “major electrical system failure.”

The length of time required to repair such damages as electrical systems may vary, but he expects it will take a number of weeks.

“The building is under an active order to close,” he said, explaining fire staff are on hand to observe and audit the compliance of the building owners and ensure they follow necessary safety requirements.

Tory said clothing donations will be handled by two grassroots organizations based in St. James Town: Community Matters Toronto, and Community Corner.

Bell Media has already donated at least 300 backpacks for kids to take back to school, Tory said. Tridel, a Toronto real estate developer, has donated $5,000, and its staff will be involved in the clothing drive efforts, said spokesperson Justin Van Dette.

The city is also asking individuals and corporate organizations to donate money to help cover basic needs for displaced residents.

Tory said any groups or community organizations willing to fundraise for the cause should do so through the Red Cross, which he said has been doing an “amazing” job.

Outside 650 Parliament St., Lynn Brennan, a 15-year resident of Cabbagetown, bought six boxes of ice cream bars and distributed them to people in the sweltering heat.

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“It’s the least I can do. They’re my neighbours,” she said, adding she has also made a financial donation to Red Cross. “I’ve been on picket lines before and I know when you’re standing in line for too long, you need something to help you.”

Councillor Troisi said she’s been closely monitoring the situation. She said things were running “a lot smoother” now, and tenants were given information on how to seek independent legal advice as needed.

“Over the next few days, it really is up to the property owner to start to step in and live up to their moral and legal obligations,” she said.

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