Police probe if North York fire connected to suspected weekend arsons
Posted August 11, 2014 8:59 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto police are investigating whether an early-morning fire inside an auto body shop compound in North York is related to suspicious fires over the weekend, believed to be the work of an arsonist.
The two-alarm fire broke out at Quality Used Cars Wholesale at 30 Toro Rd., near Keele Street and Finch Avenue West, at around 2:30 a.m. on Monday. At least eight vehicles were damaged.
“Some are completely damaged – burnt out,” Det. Wayne Bates explained. “There are some parked near by that were damaged because of the heat and the flames.”
Toronto police told 680News the fire is suspicious and believe it was intentionally set.
The flames were knocked down in about 20 minutes.
No injuries were reported.
The recent fire is around five kilometres away from the Jane Street and Wilson Avenue area where four fires were deliberately set early Sunday morning.
Three vehicles were set on fire, and four vehicles were damaged. Some of the vehicles were parked in the owners’ driveways.
There were no reports of any injuries.
Police say they will investigate if the instances are connected.
“We’re just trying to determine if they’re connected,” said Bates. “They were cars set on fire, that’s the only connection at this point.”
Louis, whose neighbour’s pickup truck was torched, said he is worried for his family’s safety.
“I got two kids. My son’s room is in the front, so it is nerve-racking,” he said.
Surveillance video from one of the homes shows someone approaching a vehicle and then a couple minutes later flames erupt. Then, one of the homeowners comes out to try to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher.
So far, there is no description of a suspect.
Officers are asking residents to be vigilant in the early morning and to report any suspicious behaviour.
