Yesterday afternoon, a fire erupted at the under-construction Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's RainForest exhibit, thanks to sparks from a torch igniting nearby vegetation. According to officials, Cleveland firefighters' emergency response helped contain the incident without harming animals or staff.
The blaze primarily affected the exterior of the building, where a major renovation to expand the facility, which closed in September 2024, is underway to house the Primate Forest and CrossCountry Mortgage Forest Home eventually. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the renovation is expected to be completed in 2026, but now there might be delays while they assess the situation. Workers using a torch to cut metal were the source of the accident.
No injuries to firefighters or zoo staff were reported, and there were no animal casualties, as confirmed by Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's communications director, Jacqueline Gerling, who expressed gratitude towards the swift action taken by the fire department in a statement obtained by the Akron Beacon Journal.
A FOX8 viewer shared video footage of flames and smoke rising from the structure. As FOX8 reported previously, remodeling had been progressing to integrate the building into the future Primate Forest, which is expected to feature gorillas and orangutans upon completion. However, the fire incident caused minimal damage to the zoo's structure, according to a FOX8 report.
The fire, which has been ruled accidental by Cleveland firefighters, did not interrupt the operation as the zoo officials announced it would normally open the day following the fire, shared via a statement released to Cleveland19 News, ensuring safety continues to be a top priority as the zoo and its staff overcome this unexpected hurdle.
