Toronto subway to be closed for days

TORONTO, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Toronto officials warned Friday that Canada's largest city will likely be without its subway system throughout the weekend.

The power failure that hit the northeastern United States and Ontario has crippled the transit system, whose backbone is the subway and streetcar system. Every bus in the fleet was put into service, the Globe and Mail reported.

Mayor Mel Lastman said firefighters rescued 110 people from elevators between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Toronto Police Deputy Chief Mike Boyd said there were 38 major arrests for robberies, lootings and assaults overnight, "slightly above" normal.

Fire Chief Bill Stewart said his department had responded to about 1,500 calls overnight. The chief urged residents not to use candles, the cause of many fires. In Ottawa, two people died in a house fire caused by candles.

Ontario Premier Ernie Eves declared a state of emergency for the province, and asked everyone to stay home, reduce power consumption and water use.