Seven fires in Waterloo thought to be linked

All deemed suspicious

WATERLOO — A series of suspicious fires in north Waterloo over the past few weeks are under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office.

The joint investigation with Waterloo Fire Rescue and Waterloo Regional Police Service is looking at seven early-morning fires that appear to be connected.

The suspicious cases include a fire at a house under construction to sheds set ablaze, a car that went up in flames and a fence that was burned to the ground.

A shed fire that extended to an auto repair shop on Glen Forrest Boulevard in the early hours of Sunday morning is the latest in this string of fires.

One of the fires occurred in a park.

“You have a very wide variety of incident types,” Ryan Schubert, acting Waterloo Rescue Fire Chief said. “We do believe them to be linked.”

No one was injured during these incidents.

Schubert said the Ontario Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Ontario were called in to investigate after the fifth suspicious fire earlier this month.

The fires happened in the north Waterloo area roughly bounded by Conservation Drive, Benjamin Road, Northfield Drive and Albert Street and Bearinger Road between July 6 and July 30. The neighbourhoods are also commonly known as Lakeshore Village, Lakeshore North and Conservation Meadows.

As the investigation continues, Schubert said the City of Waterloo will have extra city security and bylaw enforcement patrolling the streets as the fires are investigated.

“We’re asking residents to be vigilant at this time,” he said.

Residents should call police if they witness a fire incident or any suspicious activity.

Make sure homes, vehicles, equipment and fence gates are secure. Also lock away any combustibles (such as trash, brush and gas cans) in a shed.

Anyone with information about these suspicious fires is asked to call police at 519653-7700 ext. 6355, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.