west island strip mall, montreal north residence targeted by arson
the two fires broke out within 30 minutes of each other.
1 minute read
dario ayala
/
montreal gazette files
montreal police found themselves dealing with two cases of arson within 30 minutes of each other early friday after fires broke out at a dollard-des-ormeaux strip mall and a residence in the borough of montreal north. the strip mall incident was the first, with police receiving a 911 call around 1:30 a.m. reporting a fire on sunnybrooke blvd. near spring-garden st. in dollard-des-ormeaux. by the time officers arrived at the scene, firefighters were already battling the flames, but damage to the building was extensive.
witnesses said at least one suspect was seen fleeing the area before the arrival of police. there were no injuries reported.
the same strip mall was targeted by an arson fire on sept. 8, 2021. in that case, a passerby saw smoke coming from the strip mall early that morning and contacted authorities. firefighters were able to extinguish that blaze, but damage to the building was severe. after the fire was put out, firefighters found traces of products that could have been used to start the fire.
businesses in the strip mall were closed for a long time before they were able to reopen, including the same restaurant that appeared to suffer the most damage in friday’s fire.
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in the other fire on friday around 2 a.m., montreal firefighters called police for assistance after traces of flammables were found at the scene of a fire in a residence on alfred st. near henri-bourassa blvd. in the borough of montreal-north.
one person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but was not hospitalized.
investigators were expected to visit both fire scenes later on friday.
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