Latest news with #TorontoFire
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Scarborough coffee shop fire an act of arson: Cops
The latest of a recent rash of arson fires happened early Tuesday at a Greek coffee shop and social club in Scarborough. Toronto firefighters responded around 3:15 a.m. and extinguished a blaze at Elliniko Kafeneio Synantisi cafe, located in a plaza on Birchmount Rd., about one kilometre south of Ellesmere Rd. Toronto Police posted to social media that 'this fire is being investigated as a suspected arson.' At the scene, through the smashed front windows, some burned tables and chairs could be seen. There was smashed glass all over the front walkway, a pry bar lay on the ground outside beside a chair, and a red gas can could be seen sitting on one of the many green felt-topped tables inside. Peter, who was getting his hair cut in a shop next to the cafe, said he goes in once in a while to have a coffee. When asked if people play cards inside the club for money, Peter said 'it's cards, but not big cards.' 'Daytime, nighttime, a couple of guys go in there. They spend two or three hours,' said Peter. Inside the cafe there was a huge TV set with multiple CCTV camera screens and below there was a white board that read 'No Chips. No Cash' with a bunch of numbers written in blue marker. Another man who frequents the establishment, Tom, who was in the plaza looking at the damage, said he had gone in during the day around noon and some guys 'play Gin Rummy.' 'We stay a couple of hours and then we leave,' said Tom. 'I go in, have a coffee and watch TV.' At the rear of the building was a large brown leather card table propped on a wall past the opened rear door. Outside, along the back wall of the business, there were six video cameras pointed at the back door and rear parking lot. Two Toronto Fire investigators showed up just before noon, took some photos and spoke with Toronto Police officers guarding the scene. They left without commenting on what might have occurred. A call made to the phone number posted under the cafe's outdoor signage had an automated voice recording say 'the number you have reached is not in service.' In a video released at Toronto Police headquarters, Const. Stephanie Miceli said investigators do not believe that Tuesday morning's fire is related to two other recent cases of suspected arson in that general area. Police alleged two fires were deliberately set at Indian restaurants — one Friday, the other, Saturday — in the Kennedy Rd.-Lawrence Ave. E. area less than 24 hours apart. The first fire happened as staff were cleaning up at Sha'az Indian Cusine in White Shield plaza at Kennedy Rd. and Lawrence Ave. E. on Friday around 3 a.m. Three masked men smashed their way through the front door, said police, and poured an accelerant in the dining room area before setting it ablaze as a stunned female worker watched in horror before fleeing out a back door to safety with three other colleagues. Two restaurants in Scarborough neighbourhood torched in 24 hours Staff forced to flee as masked men torch Scarborough restaurant Surveillance video obtained by The Toronto Sun from a plaza at 1190 Kennedy Rd. shows two masked men approach Bisi Bisi Indian restaurant, smash in a window and light it on fire with an accelerant from a gas can just before 3 a.m. on Saturday. And on May 21, Toronto Fire said they responded to a two-alarm fire inside the ground floor of a commercial business office at Pape and Fulton Aves. that was set ablaze around 5:20 a.m. Three residents who live in apartments on the second floor were rescued and taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. Toronto Police said that three suspects wearing dark clothes, hoodies and masks 'were carrying red jerry cans,' according to reports given to Global News.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
No injuries after fire breaks out at commercial building in Etobicoke
No injuries were reported after a fire at a commercial building in Etobicoke. (Jacob Estrin/ CP24) No injuries were reported after a fire at a commercial building in Etobicoke. Toronto Fire says the blaze broke out at a building on Albion Road, near Highway 27, at around 9 p.m. Wednesday. Flames and heavy smoke were discovered when crews arrived on scene. The fire was subsequently upgraded to a two-alarm incident but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze. Crews remain on scene on Thursday morning, monitoring for hotspots. A number of nearby restaurants were impacted, though the fire did not actually spread to those businesses. Public health was called in to assess the impact on the restaurants due to food being exposed. Officials have not yet been able to confirm a cause.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Fires at two Scarborough restaurants are connected, police say
Toronto police say the fires that broke out at two Indian restaurants in Scarborough last week are 'connected.' In both incidents, police said masked suspects either forced their way inside or broke into the restaurants, poured an accelerant, and set the properties on fire. Meanwhile, Tuesday's fire at another Scarborough business is not believed to be related to the two fires, police said. This is a breaking news update. An earlier version of this story follows. A fire that broke out at a business in Scarborough early Tuesday morning is being investigated as arson, Toronto police say. Toronto Fire confirmed to CP24 that the blaze broke out at a business on Birchmount Road, near Ellesmere Road. Crews arrived to find fire visible through the front of the building and entered the establishment to extinguish the flames. Firefighters remain on scene to watch for hot spots. A fire investigator has been notified but it is unclear if they will be investigating. The fire comes after two other arsons at Scarborough restaurants last week. Surveillance video from the scene of an arson at a strip mall located on Kennedy Road, north of Lawrence Avenue East, captured two people setting a restaurant ablaze early Saturday morning. A similar incident was reported at a restaurant at a strip mall nearby just one day earlier. Police would not say if they believe any of the arsons are connected. 'It is very disconcerting, it is very disappointing,' Coun. Michael Thompson told CP24 at the scene on Tuesday morning. 'It is very difficult for the community as a whole, it just seems as if we are under siege. It is obviously difficult for the business owners as well. This is unbelievable. I have never seen anything like this before but I can assure you that every effort is being taken to get to the bottom of this.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police investigating 3rd suspected arson in Toronto in less than a week
Toronto police are investigating a suspected arson after a fire at a business in Scarborough early Tuesday — the third fire being investigated as an arson in the city in less than a week. The incident happened in a plaza near Birchmount Road and Vauxhall Drive around 3:15 a.m., Toronto police said in a post on X. Fire crews extinguished the fire, which did not spread, Toronto Fire said. There were no injuries, they said. Crews remain on scene, and fire investigators have been notified. Police said the investigation is ongoing. There is no suspect information available at this time. Spokesperson Stephanie Miceli said she does not have information on the type of business in an email Tuesday. A reserved parking sign on the side of the building refers to it as a "Greek coffee shop." Images from the scene Tuesday show the building's front windows were broken. This fire follows a suspected arson at a Scarborough restaurant on Friday near Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue E. Three male suspects wearing dark clothes and masks were seen leaving the area, police said at the time. No injuries were reported, and Ontario's Office of the Fire Marshal is not investigating the incident. Police investigators will work to determine whether the two fires are connected, Miceli said. Another fire happened at a restaurant in Scarborough early Saturday morning near Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue E. Police didn't label the incident a suspected arson at the time and said they are investigating the cause. Mayor Olivia Chow said she received a full briefing from Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop on Saturday and Tuesday, speaking at an unrelated city announcement Tuesday. She declined to comment further on the incidents, saying the Ontario Fire Marshal and police are told CBC Radio's Metro Morning earlier Tuesday she doesn't think people should be concerned about going to restaurants in Scarborough as the fires have happened during early hours "when the customers were not there." "We'll keep people safe," she said. Police are also investigating a suspected arson at a two-storey building in East York on Wednesday that sent three people to hospital for minor smoke inhalation. The incident happened at 834 Pape Avenue at a building with a business on the main level and a residential space above, police said at the time. Investigators are looking for three suspects who allegedly broke into the building, set fire to it and then fled. They wore dark clothing and masks, and were carrying red gas cans, police said.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Police investigating 2nd suspected arson in Scarborough in less than a week
Toronto police are investigating a suspected arson after a fire at a business in Scarborough early Tuesday — the second possible arson in the area in less than a week. The incident happened in a plaza near Birchmount Road and Vauxhall Drive around 3:15 a.m., Toronto police said in a post on X. Fire crews extinguished the fire, which did not spread, Toronto Fire said. There were no injuries, they said. Crews remain on scene, and fire investigators have been notified. Police said the investigation is ongoing. There is no suspect information available at this time. Spokesperson Stephanie Miceli said she does not have information on the type of business in an email Tuesday. This fire follows a suspected arson at a Scarborough restaurant on Friday near Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue E. Three male suspects wearing dark clothes and masks were seen leaving the area, police said at the time. No injuries were reported, and Ontario's Office of the Fire Marshal is not investigating the incident. Police investigators will work to determine whether the two fires are connected, spokesperson Stephanie Miceli said in an email Tuesday. Another fire happened at a restaurant in Scarborough early Saturday morning near Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue E. Police didn't label the incident a suspected arson at the time and said they are investigating the cause.
