Huge fire and explosions rock downtown Toronto

A large fire on the roof of a building in downtown Toronto cast the city in black smoke and set off loud explosions on Friday evening.

The two-alarm blaze broke out atop a building on Richmond St. W. near John St. on Friday evening as masses descended on the area ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays' home opener at the Rogers Centre a few blocks to the south.

Fire crews responded to the blaze after p.m. Friday, and videos quickly began circulating on social media showing a blaze and multiple explosions blasting from the downtown rooftop.

Fire in toronto! EXPLOSION #toronto #explosion pic.twitter.com/VLqQ1WFKxl

— Wyatt (@whereiswyatt) March 27, 2026

Other angles show thick smoke pouring from the scene of the fire.

Saw it from my balcony too pic.twitter.com/97gdIXUBmH

— Moses M (@_mmoses) March 27, 2026

Video from a neighbouring building shows what appears to be a rooftop gas line spitting flames and explosions, later confirmed to be propane cylinders cooking off.

The reason behind the explosions right now in Toronto downtown, I made this video from my balcony at 38 Widmer st. #toronto #explosion pic.twitter.com/VTzqz0AHgO

— Alex Kahel (@AlexKahel) March 27, 2026

Toronto Police confirmed on social media that the fire was reported on the roof of an under-construction building, and that "items are possibly exploding and debris may be falling onto the street below." 

Road closures are in effect as police and fire crews respond.

FIRE:
Richmond St W & John St
6:02 pm
-reports of a fire on the roof of a building under construction
-information received that items are possibly exploding and debris may be falling onto the street below
-police on scene with @Toronto_Fire
-unknown injuries at this time
-use…

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) March 27, 2026

Toronto Fire stated that the blaze ruptured multiple propane cylinders, and that no injuries were reported.

TFS Crews remain on scene after a 2-Alarm fire on the roof of a commercial building on Richmond St W resulted in ruptured propane cylinders, heavy flames and thick smoke. Crews protected the remaining cylinders and have extinguished the fire. No injuries reported. #toronto ^dc pic.twitter.com/jNa1NbbfYP

— Toronto Fire Services 🇨🇦 (@Toronto_Fire) March 28, 2026

This is a developing story.