Zlín’s Historic Building 34 Set for Demolition After Devastating Fire

A large fire broke out on 9 July 2026 in building 34, an 11‑storey structure in the former Baťa factory area of Zlín. The blaze, which started in the ninth‑floor shoe‑warehouse used by Vasky, spread to higher floors and the roof, causing the building to partially collapse. Firefighters have been fighting the fire for several days and expect the extinguishing work to continue for weeks.

The owner, Cream Group, says demolition of the remaining structure will begin in a few weeks once legal permissions are secured and the site is handed over. The company estimates the demolition will take about two weeks of specialized logistics after contracting a demolition firm.

The fire damaged inventory worth tens of millions of Czech crowns, including roughly 75 000 pairs of shoes and clothing (valued at 150‑180 million CZK) belonging to Vasky, over half a billion CZK of goods stored by Alpine Pro, about 9 000 parcels of Packeta’s Zásilkovna service, and caused losses of 5‑10 million CZK to bike manufacturer Equator Cycling, among others. The incident also affected the retailer Sportisimo.

Authorities are investigating the cause; criminal investigators and fire officials are involved, and negligence could carry up to five years’ imprisonment. The building was considered an iconic example of post‑war industrial architecture, and its loss is seen as a significant blow to the urban landscape of Zlín.