New security video shows the moment a fire was set at a warehouse in Scarborough early Wednesday morning, which police say is being investigated as suspected arson.
The footage was shared with CP24 by a representative of FlooReno Building Supplies, which owns the warehouse.
Security camera caught an SUV arriving in the parking lot of the FlooReno warehouse and one person getting out of the vehicle.
The person then uses what appears to be a hatchet to break a window. They return to the SUV and, seconds later, get out, holding a jerry can, and walk to the shattered window.
Shortly after, the person grabs what appears to be a paper from inside the SUV, lights it on fire and throws it toward the window.
Suddenly, the area goes up in flames, and the SUV drives away.
No injuries were reported.
Toronto police confirmed that they were called to a business in the area of Lawrence Avenue East and Kennedy Road shortly before 2 a.m.
They would not say if the fire was linked to the other two incidents on Sunday that also damaged FlooReno warehouses.
“Any possible connections between the fires would be part of the ongoing investigations. I don’t have that information at this time,” a Toronto police media relations officer said in an email to CP24 on Thursday night.
$5 million in fire damages: FlooReno
FlooReno said it has suffered an estimated $5 million in initial damages from the three fires.
“These are not just financial losses - they represent the hard work and livelihoods of our employees and their families,” the statement read.
The Canadian building supplies company said it was co-operating with the investigation.
“We have built this company over more than four decades through hard work, integrity, and deep roots in our communities. These attacks will not define us, but they must be answered. We call on anyone with information to please come forward, and we thank our community for their outpouring of support,” FlooReno president Abad Hamam said in a statement.
FlooReno thanked all emergency services that responded to the three fires.
“Their actions helped contain the fires quickly and ensured that no injuries occurred. We are fortunate to operate in communities with such dedicated public safety professionals,” the company said.
Mississauga fire also caught on cam
The other two fires happened on Sunday, about half an hour apart.
At 12:53 a.m., emergency crews in Mississauga were called to FlooReno’s warehouse near South Sheridan Way and Winston Churchill Boulevard.
In a video shared with CP24, one person appears to set items on the warehouse floor on fire. Seconds later, a flash of light and then flames are seen in the video.
The person then walks to another set of items nearby, pours what appears to be an accelerant from a jerry can, and lights them on fire before running away.
A FlooReno representative claimed that two people were involved in the fire.
Peel police told CP24 at that time that it was investigating the incident as a “suspicious fire.”
Shortly before 1:30 a.m., Toronto emergency services responded to a fire at FlooReno’s warehouse in the area of Steeles Avenue and Norfinch Drive.
The warehouse was engulfed in flames when first responders arrived, police said.
No injuries were reported.
Toronto police told CP24 on Sunday that they were aware of the Mississauga incident and would consider the fact that they could be related “if this fire is deemed to be an arson.”
Neither the Toronto police nor the Peel police have released further information about the Sunday fires.
With files from CTV News Toronto’s Jermaine Wilson
