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Downtown Toronto fire A large fire is seen on the roof of a downtown Toronto building on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Chopper 24) <\/p>\nVideo from Chopper 24 captured an explosion on the roof of a downtown Toronto building where a fire broke out on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Toronto Fire Services (TFS) said crews were called to 296 Richmond St. W. just after 6 p.m. for a roof fire.<\/p>\n
TFS Deputy Chief Paul Fitzgerald told CP24 crews arrived within 90 seconds after the call.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn arrival, there were several explosions,\u201d Fitzgerald said. \u201cThey made their way up to the roof. They were faced with what looked like a heavy structure fire on the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n
Images captured by Chopper 24 showed intense flames and thick black smoke billowing from the roof of the six-storey commercial building, which police said was under construction.<\/p>\n
At one point, Chopper 24 caught an explosion, with huge flames shooting toward the sky.<\/p>\n
Downtown Toronto fire A large fire is seen on the roof of a downtown Toronto building on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Chopper 24) <\/p>\n
TFS said the two-alarm fire ruptured up to three propane cylinders that were on the roof.<\/p>\n
The fire department added that crews were able to protect the remaining cylinders and knock down the blaze.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe crews of Toronto Fire are very aggressive, operationally strong, made really good progress. Even during the roof fire and the explosions, they made their way up there,\u201d Fitzgerald said.<\/p>\n
Crews had completed a search of the building and no injuries were reported, TFS said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be an investigation as to what was alight. There is some construction going up there. That\u2019s probably where the investigation will focus,\u201d Fitzgerald said.<\/p>\n
He noted that firefighters did not see anyone on the roof when they arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t think anyone was working or any members of the public were up there at the time,\u201d Fitzgerald said when asked about a possible cause, which is unknown at this time.<\/p>\n
The origin and circumstances of the fire are also undetermined.<\/p>\n
Fitzgerald said there were some brief evacuations nearby but all had been cleared to return.<\/p>\n
\u2018Earth-shattering bangs\u2019<\/p>\n
Author Julie Mannell had just sat down in a restaurant located on the ground floor of the adjacent building to celebrate the release of an excerpt of her book when she saw fire trucks arriving.<\/p>\n
She recalled hearing a restaurant staff member saying that a roof was on fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen suddenly there are these earth-shattering bangs and the building shakes, and there are a few of them,\u201d Mannell told CP24.com. In a video she shared, a thunderous bang is heard as the windows of the restaurant rattle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounded like the explosions were coming from upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Downtown Toronto roof fire A fire is seen on the roof of a building on Richmond Street West on Friday, March 27, 2026. <\/p>\n
She looked around, and everyone didn\u2019t know what to do, Mannell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then there was this feeling of like, how serious is this? And then it just slowly became more obvious that something indeed was happening, but we didn\u2019t know what,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Shortly after, Mannell left the restaurant and saw the commotion outside. She said she could smell smoke while walking on the street.<\/p>\n
TFS Crews remain on scene after a 2-Alarm fire on the roof of a commercial building on Richmond St W resulted in ruptured propane cylinders, heavy flames and thick smoke. Crews protected the remaining cylinders and have extinguished the fire. No injuries reported. #toronto<\/a> ^dc pic.twitter.com\/jNa1NbbfYP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Toronto Fire Services \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 (@Toronto_Fire) March 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n