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Drake’s Ice Installation Dismantled by Toronto Fire Services

Fire crews intervene as dangerous fan activity forces early end to album promotion stunt

Drake’s Ice Installation Dismantled by Toronto Fire Services
Cole Burston/The Canadian Press/AP
Billy Eff
By Billy EffApr 22, 2026
Billy Eff

Billy Eff est le Directeur de contenu pour Rolling Stone au Canada. Journaliste et chroniqueur maintes fois primé, il a précédemment contribué à des médias incluant VICE et Urbania. Féru des musiques underground, et musicien lui-même, il a au cours des 15 dernières années mené plusieurs centaines d'entrevues avec des artistes et des professionnels, dans tous les styles et genres. Il est basé à Montréal, au Québec.

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A large-scale promotional installation created for Drake was dismantled by Toronto fire crews after safety concerns escalated around the site. The towering structure, made of thousands of ice blocks, had been designed to generate excitement for his upcoming album Iceman by hiding its release date within.

However, what began as a creative marketing campaign quickly became hazardous. Fans gathered in large numbers and attempted to break into the structure using extreme measures, including lighting fires and using tools such as sledgehammers. According to CBC, these actions prompted emergency intervention late Tuesday night.

Fire Chief Jim Jessop issued a statement stressing the urgency of the situation. “As Toronto’s Fire Chief, my top priority is keeping Torontonians safe,” he said, adding that the use of open flames and flammable materials created “an immediate threat to life.” Crews worked overnight, spraying the installation with warm water to safely melt it down while police managed crowds nearby.

Despite the premature dismantling, the stunt succeeded in revealing the album’s release date. A hidden folder discovered by Toronto-based streamer Kishka inside the ice confirmed that Iceman will drop on May 15, a date later verified by Drake.

Michael Gingerich, whose firm helped design the installation, said the team had not expected such an intense public reaction. While disappointed the structure could not remain longer, he acknowledged the overwhelming turnout. City officials, including Mayor Olivia Chow, supported the decision to dismantle the installation, emphasizing that public safety must come first.

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