Chopper video captures explosion on burning roof of downtown Toronto building

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Chopper video captures a big explosion from a rooftop fire in downtown Toronto

‘No displacements, no injures’ following explosive rooftop fire in Toronto: deputy fire chief

Video from Chopper 24 captured an explosion on the roof of a downtown Toronto building where a fire broke out on Friday night.

Toronto Fire Services (TFS) said crews were called to 296 Richmond St. W. just after 6 p.m. for a roof fire.

TFS Deputy Chief Paul Fitzgerald told CP24 crews arrived within 90 seconds after the call.

“On arrival, there were several explosions,” Fitzgerald said. “They made their way up to the roof. They were faced with what looked like a heavy structure fire on the roof.”

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.

At one point, Chopper 24 caught an explosion, with huge flames shooting toward the sky.

TFS said the two-alarm fire ruptured up to three propane cylinders that were on the roof.

The fire department added that crews were able to protect the remaining cylinders and knock down the blaze.

“The 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,” Fitzgerald said.

Crews had completed a search of the building and no injuries were reported, TFS said.

“There will be an investigation as to what was alight. There is some construction going up there. That’s probably where the investigation will focus,” Fitzgerald said.

He noted that firefighters did not see anyone on the roof when they arrived.

“We don’t think anyone was working or any members of the public were up there at the time,” Fitzgerald said when asked about a possible cause, which is unknown at this time.

The origin and circumstances of the fire are also undetermined.

Fitzgerald said there were some brief evacuations nearby but all had been cleared to return.

‘Earth-shattering bangs’

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.

She recalled hearing a restaurant staff member saying that a roof was on fire.

“Then suddenly there are these earth-shattering bangs and the building shakes, and there are a few of them,” Mannell told CP24.com. In a video she shared, a thunderous bang is heard as the windows of the restaurant rattle.

“It sounded like the explosions were coming from upstairs.”

She looked around, and everyone didn’t know what to do, Mannell said.

“And 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’t know what,” she said.

Shortly after, Mannell left the restaurant and saw the commotion outside. She said she could smell smoke while walking on the street.