A column of smoke, visible over a large area of Metro, rises from the flaming ruins of the Ashland Oil Co

Original Toronto Star caption: A column of smoke; visible over a large area of Metro; rises from the flaming ruins of the Ashland Oil Co. plant on Fairbank Ave. in york borough early this afternoon. Three persons wee feared dead and at least 15 injured and firemen evacuated factories in a two-block area because of fears of a major explosion. In the early stages of the fire; spectators heard a continual barrage of blasts inside the building. About 1;000 people were taken out of the area.