ore than 130 firefighters in 29 trucks tackled a five-alarm blaze at celeb-magnet eatery, Sassafraz, located in the chic Yorkville neighbourhood. Fire fighters said the building was engulfed in flames when they arrived at the restaurant. The fire was first reported at about 11:30a.m. Wednesday and reached the three-alarm level by noon. The kitchen grease fire eventually reached five alarm status, causing, in the end, an estimated $2.5 million in damage.

The fast-spreading fire destroyed most of the eatery at 100 Cumberland St. between Bay St. and Avenue Road, filling some of downtown Toronto’s most chi-chi streets with smoke. Fire crews tore through the three layers of ceiling of the early historical building to put out the fire, closing traffic on Cumberland and on Bloor St., between Bay Street and Avenue Road. Hundreds of bystanders lined a police boundary as the monster blaze poured thick black smoke out onto Cumberland Street.

The first floor managed to remain somewhat unscathed by the blaze and it's possible the building’s main structure can be salvaged. The restaurant has been a longtime magnet for celebrities and local stargazing scenesters, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival, due to its proximity to the TIFF partygrounds. According to its website, Sassafraz, which replaced Bellair Café in the early '90s, has attracted myriad celebrities over the years, including the likes of Mick Jagger, Mike Myers, Bono, and Dylan McDermott.

The fire was originally believed to have started in the second-level washroom but fire officials later said it was a kitchen grease fire. The blaze was declared under control by about 2 p.m. Dozens of fire trucks helped douse the flames, remaining on the scene the entire day.