Zanzibar Toronto Faces Major Damage After Three-Alarm Zanzibar Fire
August 17, 2026 Team Contributor
TORONTO — A three-alarm Zanzibar fire caused major structural damage to Zanzibar Toronto early Sunday morning. Parts of the roof and floors collapsed as Toronto firefighters worked to control the blaze.
Toronto Fire Services responded to Zanzibar Tavern at 359 Yonge Street, near Elm Street, shortly after 6 a.m. on August 16. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the building, with the fire spreading through parts of the structure.
Conditions inside the building worsened, and firefighters declared sections hazardous. Crews continued to battle the blaze amid the potential for further structural damage. Eventually, parts of the roof and floors collapsed, causing extensive damage to the Zanzibar Toronto building.
Speaking from the scene later in the day, Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop said crews arrived to “heavy flame, heavy smoke, and heat at the Zanzibar Tavern,” adding that the fire was quickly upgraded to a second alarm. He credited the incident commander’s decisions with preventing the blaze from spreading across the rest of the block after seeing the extent of the damage inside the building.
Zanzibar Fire Causes Disruption in Toronto Traffic
The Zanzibar fire also temporarily disrupted one of Toronto’s busiest downtown areas.
Yonge Street was closed between Dundas and Gerrard streets while emergency crews worked at the scene. Westbound Gerrard Street was also affected as firefighters dealt with the damaged building.
The closures created delays around the Yonge Street corridor, an area that typically sees heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic throughout the day.
Fire crews brought the main fire under control, but firefighters remained on scene to address hot spots and ensure the damaged structure was safe to approach.
There were no immediate reports of serious injuries. Investigators are still determining the cause of the Zanzibar fire.
Fires can cause major disruption well beyond the building directly affected, especially in busy urban areas. Canadian Travel News has also covered other incidents involving evacuations and fire-related disruptions, including the Belcarra fire and evacuation in British Columbia.
Zanzibar Toronto Remains a Familiar Yonge Street Landmark
The damage has raised questions about what comes next for the longtime Yonge Street venue.
Allen Cooper, Zanzibar’s owner, said the club’s top floor may have been lost in the fire. Despite the damage, he remains hopeful about rebuilding the venue and carrying on the family business.
Cooper said the establishment has been part of the city for generations, explaining that his father started the business. Reflecting on its future, he said, “We’ve been around since 1960. My dad started the place. Bigger and better is our attitude”.
He also expressed optimism about rebuilding after the Zanzibar fire, saying, “We can always hope for the best, build it better than it was.”
The incident is another reminder of how quickly a fire can affect a property, its surrounding area, and nearby businesses. Travel-related disruptions following fires have also affected destinations outside Canada, including the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel fire in the Dominican Republic.
What Happens Next After the Zanzibar Fire?
For now, the focus is on assessing the building and determining what caused the blaze.
The partial collapse of the roof and floors means the damage goes beyond the immediate effects of a commercial fire. Structural assessments will help determine what can be repaired and what further work may be required.
For people travelling through downtown Toronto, the immediate impact has been around Yonge and Elm streets, where emergency response and safety measures have affected traffic.
The Zanzibar fire has also brought attention to a familiar part of Toronto’s downtown streetscape. After more than six decades on Yonge Street, Zanzibar Toronto now faces an uncertain future after the blaze caused significant damage.
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