Two suspicious fires over the past month appear targeted and connected, according to police, whose investigation is ongoing.
Both fires targeted The Barber Shop locations, which are owned by the same people – the first on Lasalle Boulevard on Feb. 22 and the second on Regent Street on Wednesday morning.
During the most recent of the two fires, police took over the scene with detectives from the Major Crime Section of their Criminal Investigation Division with assistance of officers in Patrol Operations, according to a Greater Sudbury Police Service media release.
As of this morning, police were still canvassing for video surveillance footage, with businesses in the area equipped with such equipment asked to check their footage between 5:45 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. Wednesday and to contact police if there’s anything suspicious.
Detectives are working in collaboration with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office to determine the cause of the fire.
Both The Barber Shop locations are part of strip malls. In both fires, neighbouring residents and businesses were also affected.
Wednesday’s fire was called into Greater Sudbury Fire Services at approximately 6 a.m., and crews were able to contain the fire to one unit in the building. However, smoke and water damage affected adjoining businesses on either side.
This included Eddie’s Restaurant and a Sudbury Steam Laundry and Dry Cleaners location. Firefighters also helped staff from the Pet Food Warehouse, which is located in the same plaza, move animals out of the building to safety.
The Feb. 22 fire took place at approximately 11 p.m. at a The Barber Shop location on Lasalle Boulevard at the Place De Leon strip mall. The fire was also contained to a single unit in this incident, although adjoining units suffered smoke and water damage.
Three people were evacuated from attached residential units.
Those with information about these incidents are asked to phone police at 705-675-9171 or to make an anonymous tip by phoning Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477.
