Arson squad probing tow yard fire
It was just after 5 a.m. Thursday when John Villeneuve’s employee started to see the smoke on Leitrim Road as he approached work.
Villeneuve owns a plot of land at 4020 Leitrim Rd. that houses his street-sweeping and tanker companies and a lot that he rents to about four towing companies.
“He called the firemen and there was six or eight cars in the compound on fire, so there could have been a short on those cars or there could have been arson,” Villeneuve said.
Ottawa police arson detectives are probing the suspicious fire to determine whether it was deliberately set. Villeneuve believes his renters either allow or charge other tow truck operators to use the space, too.
There’s no office on the property, just a yard to store vehicles. There was another fire on the property years ago when dry wood ignited, but this was the first time any vehicles were burned.
The city last week opened online public consultation on whether it should finally begin regulating the towing industry in Ottawa. Calls to do so were heightened after three Ottawa police officers and three civilians were charged in an alleged two-truck kickback scheme in which, RCMP alleged, cops sold collision information to tow operators.
“Although the City regulates towing services through limited provisions found in the Traffic and Parking By-law, there is no business licensing or regulatory regime for the towing industry,” the city’s towing review website says.
“We are reviewing if regulations are needed for towing companies, tow truck drivers and storage yards in Ottawa.”
So-called tow truck wars have been increasingly raging in the Greater Toronto Area, with rival companies beefing over turf. Police have seen vehicles set on fire, shootings and even homicide.
Insiders in Ottawa say the unregulated framework means operators in this city are chasing collisions, coveted contracts and the hefty paydays that come with them. It has led to bad blood between operators.
The city’s review includes a public survey and an industry survey. Both are available until the end of June.