Fire tears through downtown Kingston: two historic buildings damaged

Downtown Kingston fire damages two historic buildings during busy holiday season

A major overnight fire damaged two historic buildings in downtown Kingston, forcing road closures but causing no injuries.

The fire began in the basement of 354 King St. East, home to Shuroop, a sushi and ramen restaurant. Flames quickly spread through the building, destroying the main and second floors. Fire officials confirmed there were no residential units on the upper level.

The blaze then extended to the neighbouring property at 358 King St. East, which houses A-One Clothing. Residents inside the building were alerted and safely evacuated as a precaution.

Kingston Fire & Rescue responded to the call and contained the fire before it spread further. Crews fully extinguished the flames by about 8:30 a.m. Cleanup operations are now underway at both locations.

Downtown Kingston BIA thanked firefighters for their quick response, saying their efforts helped protect surrounding businesses and the community.

Princess Street and King Street remain closed to vehicles while crews work on cleanup and assessments. All other downtown businesses remain open, and shoppers are encouraged to continue supporting local retailers during the critical holiday season.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.