Zanzibar Toronto suffers major damage after three-alarm fire

A major three-alarm fire caused significant structural damage to Zanzibar Toronto, a well-known establishment located at 359 Yonge Street, early Sunday morning. Toronto Fire Services responded to the scene around 6 a.m., encountering heavy smoke, intense heat, and flames. The blaze resulted in the collapse of portions of the roof and floors, leading officials to declare sections of the building hazardous.

Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop stated that the incident commander’s decisions were critical in preventing the fire from spreading to the rest of the block. While the fire caused substantive damage and smoke and water damage to two adjoining properties, no injuries were reported as the building was empty at the time.

Following the incident, the City of Toronto issued unsafe building orders for Zanzibar and the two neighboring properties. A building inspector determined that the fire-related damage created conditions hazardous to public health and safety. The owner of Zanzibar is required to hire a professional engineer to assess the structural stability of the building and the potential for further collapse before access is permitted. The site has been fenced off to prevent entry.