Latest news with #PaulVersace
CTV News
24-05-2025
- CTV News
Video shows 2 people setting Scarborough restaurant on fire
Video obtained by CTV News Toronto shows the moment two suspects set ablaze a store near Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue East. Video obtained by CTV News Toronto shows the moment two people set ablaze a restaurant at a Scarborough strip mall early Saturday morning. In the surveillance video, a car arrives in the parking lot of the strip mall located on Kennedy Road, north of Lawrence Avenue East. Two people, one holding what appears to be a red canister and the other carrying some kind of metal bar, get out of the car and walk towards an establishment. After breaking the front door using the bar, the two enter the store and stay inside for approximately 30 seconds. When they get out, one person lights a fire and throws it through the door. The front of the restaurant goes up in flames quickly. The two suspects return to the car and drive away as flames and thick black smoke shoot out of the restaurant. Toronto fire Fire crews seen battling a fire at a Scarborough strip mall on Saturday May 24, 2025 (Jacob Estrin/CP24 photo). Emergency crews received the fire call at around 3:30 a.m. Speaking to CP24 at the scene, Toronto Fire Platoon Chief Paul Versace said crews responded at around 3:30 a.m. following reports of a 'fire inside a store.' When crews arrived, Versace said they found a heavy blaze inside and quickly called for a 'second alarm.' 'We had some issues with crews on the roof and the roof was compromised, so we had to go from an offensive to a defensive strategy,' he said, adding that the roof of the building later caved in. No injuries have been reported, and officials confirmed the main body of the fire has been knocked down. Toronto fire The aftermath of a two-alarm fire at a Scarborough strip mall (CP24 photo) This incident marks the second consecutive restaurant fire in recent days, after a similar occurrence in the area early Friday morning. However, officials have not commented on whether the two are related. It's unclear if there will be an investigation by the OFM (Office of the Fire Marshal in Ontario), but Versace notes he did notify investigators. 'We're going to be on scene most of the day given that (the building) collapsed and it's just smouldering,' he said. Anyone with information is asked to come forward. There are no road closures in the area.
Toronto Sun
24-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Two restaurants in Scarborough neighbourhood torched in 24 hours
Both fires appear to be the work of arsonists who smashed their way inside and then set the businesses ablaze A Toronto fire truck. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk / Files / Toronto Sun A restaurant in Scarborough was gutted by fire Saturday morning – barely 24 hours after masked men smashed their way into another nearby restaurant and torched it with employees still inside. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account And once again it appears to be the work of arsonists. Toronto Police say the latest restaurant fire erupted in a plaza at 1190 Kennedy Rd. – north of Lawrence Ave. E. – just after 3:30 a.m. Firefighters responded and found the business engulfed in flames, so the call was upgraded to a second alarm. 'We had some issues with crews on the roof and the roof was compromised, so we had to go from an offensive to defensive strategy,' Toronto Fire Platoon Chief Paul Versace told CP24 at the scene, explaining the roof of the business later collapsed. FIRE: Kennedy Rd & Lawrence Ave E @TPS41DIV3:38 am-police responded to calls for a fire at a restaurant -officers attended with @Toronto_Fire -no injuries reported-cause of the fire undetermined at this time -ongoing investigation#GO1073446 ^sm— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) May 24, 2025 Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. CP24 managed to obtain video from a security camera within the strip mall that captured two people – wearing dark clothing with hoodies pulled up – as they arrived in a vehicle, exited in the middle of the parking lot and approached the restaurant. One of the culprits can be seen carrying a gas can. The footage shows the pair smashing the front window of the business, making their way inside, and then exiting moments later with one of them still pouring an accelerant of some sort from the gas can. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The other firebug then ignites an unknown object and tosses it inside through the broken window while the first culprit runs back to the vehicle with the gas can. Meanwhile, the arsonist who sparked the fire appears to be recording video with a cellphone and is so close that they appear to be hit by a ball of fire that erupts out the front window. That person briefly disappears in the flames but can they be seen running back to the vehicle. Google Maps shows the restaurant to be Jerry's Fish and Chips, which is listed as 'permanently closed.' Read More There is an Indian restaurant immediately to the south that was also badly charred. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was an Indian restaurant that was targeted by arsonists barely 24 hours earlier, around 3 a.m. on Friday, in White Shield Plaza at Kennedy Rd. and Lawrence Ave. E. – less than 500 metres away. The investigation is ongoing into a break-in and arson that occurred at Sha'az Indian Cuisine in White Shield Plaza at Kennedy Rd. and Lawrence Ave. E. on Friday, May 23, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland / Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network And the circumstances of that blaze are eerily similar. In that case, three masked men smashed their way inside through the glass front entrance of Sha'az Indian Cuisine and dumped an accelerant from a gas can in the dining room area before setting it ablaze. But unlike Saturday's fire where nobody was inside, there were employees working in the back of the restaurant at the time and they had to run for their lives out the rear door. Police have so far released few details and no arrests have been made in either fire. cdoucette@ @sundoucette Toronto & GTA Columnists Columnists Other Sports Editorial Cartoons
CTV News
24-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Emergency crews battle two-alarm fire at Scarborough strip mall
Toronto fire crews are responding to a blaze at a strip mall that ignited early Saturday morning on May 24, 2025 (Jacob Estrin/CP24 photo). Toronto fire crews are investigating a blaze at a strip mall that saw the roof of a building collapse early Saturday morning. The incident happened near Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue East at around 3:30 a.m. Speaking to CP24 on scene, Toronto Fire Platoon Chief Paul Versace says crews responded after receiving calls of a 'fire inside a store.' Toronto fire Fire crews seen battling a fire at a Scarborough strip mall on Saturday May 24, 2025 (Jacob Estrin/CP24 photo). When crews arrived, he says they found a heavy blaze inside and quickly called for a 'second alarm.' 'We had some issues with crews on the roof and the roof was compromised so we had to go from an offensive to defensive strategy,' he said, adding that the roof later caved in. It's unclear if there will be an investigation from the OFM (Office of the Fire Marshal in Ontario), but Versace notes he did make a call to investigators adding that they will be the ones to decide if provincial authorities are needed. Toronto fire The aftermath of a two-alarm fire at a Scarborough strip mall (CP24 photo) 'We're going to be on scene most of the day today given that (the building) collapsed and it's just smoldering,' he said. No injuries have been reported and officials confirmed the main body of the fire has officially been knocked down. Anyone with information is asked to come forward. There are no road closures in the area.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Emergency crews battle two-alarm fire at Scarborough strip mall
Toronto fire crews are responding to a blaze at a strip mall that ignited early Saturday morning on May 24, 2025 (Jacob Estrin/CP24 photo). Toronto fire crews are investigating a blaze at a strip mall that saw the roof of a building collapse early Saturday morning. The incident happened near Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue East at around 3:30 a.m. Speaking to CP24 on scene, Toronto Fire Platoon Chief Paul Versace says crews responded after receiving calls of a 'fire inside a store.' Toronto fire Fire crews seen battling a fire at a Scarborough strip mall on Saturday May 24, 2025 (Jacob Estrin/CP24 photo). When crews arrived, he says they found a heavy blaze inside and quickly called for a 'second alarm.' 'We had some issues with crews on the roof and the roof was compromised so we had to go from an offensive to defensive strategy,' he said, adding that the roof later caved in. It's unclear if there will be an investigation from the OFM (Office of the Fire Marshal in Ontario), but Versace notes he did make a call to investigators adding that they will be the ones to decide if provincial authorities are needed. Toronto fire The aftermath of a two-alarm fire at a Scarborough strip mall (CP24 photo) 'We're going to be on scene most of the day today given that (the building) collapsed and it's just smoldering,' he said. No injuries have been reported and officials confirmed the main body of the fire has officially been knocked down. Anyone with information is asked to come forward. There are no road closures in the area.
