Popular Toronto Indian restaurant closed after second fire in three months
Just two months after re-opening following an overnight blaze in March, the popular Indian restaurant Banjara has fallen victim to yet another fire.
Fire crews were called to the restaurant right by Christie Pits at around 3:45 a.m. this morning after smoke was spotted coming out of the building.
[UD] 2 Alarm
— Toronto Fire South (@tofireS) June 23, 2018
Fire (commercial/industrial) [Toronto]
Bloor Street
b/w Christie Pits Park Trail / Crawford Street
Dispatched: 23/06/18 @ 03:45 EDT Updt: 23/06/18 @ 03:56 EDT
[Stn: 344] A315 A345 C30 C31 C34 CMD30 CMD30C HZ332 LA333 P312 P315 P331 P343 P344 P426 R345 R426 S331
It took firefighters until 4:30 a.m. to put out the two-alarm blaze, which, surprisingly, didn't affect its next-door neighbour Madras Masala, another popular Indian restaurant which has yet to re-open following the first fire three months ago.
#Banjara had another fire last night. Surrounded by fire apparatus and caution tape this morning. #TOfood
— Norman (((⚡Voter✖))) Wilson (@oclsc) June 23, 2018
No injuries were reported. Fire investigators have now roped off the area and are looking into the cause of the fire.
Banjara, or 'The Banj' as some call it, has been a staple in the area since 2006 and had only just re-opened in April to the delight of regulars after repairing smoke damage to its interior.
Following this second fire, its unclear if or when they'll re-open, though fans of the restaurant still have the option of hitting up their second location by Yonge and Eglinton.
