Arson Suspected In String Of Vicious Early Morning Blazes
Posted July 2, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto police are looking into whether an arsonist may be behind at least seven separate fires that lit up the back streets of a downtown neighbourhood early Monday.
Firefighters were called to the Dupont and Shaw area at about 5am to battle a stubborn blaze but within hours found that it was one of seven separate fires raging in that spot of town. Smoke could apparently be smelled from as far away as the lakeshore. The initial blazes all occurred within half an hour of each other, while the last fire broke out at about 8am.
The back of a home suffered extensive damage, and several garages also went up in flames. There were 14 properties offically affected, but fortunately police say no one was hurt in the various blazes though one family did lose its pet cat.
Toronto Fire said it’s suspicious that the fires were all set in the same area, bordered by Ossington and Dupont Aves. and Christie and Bloor Sts.
“My concern is at any time if we have any individuals who are being very careless with human life, I have great concern here in the City of Toronto,” said Toronto Fire Chief W.A. Stewart.
The Fire Marshal is aiding in the investigation and unofficial damage estimates fall in the area of $2 million.
For a look at some of the damage and for more on this chilling story, click on the video links.
