Flames tear through car & grocery store in Montreal North overnight: police suspect arson

Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating two suspected arsons that occurred overnight Tuesday in Montreal North, targeting a parked vehicle and a local grocery store.

SUV fire on d’Amiens Street

At around midnight, a call was made to 911 regarding a vehicle on fire in a parking lot on d’Amiens Street, near Balzac Avenue.

When police arrived on scene, firefighters from the Montreal Fire Department (SIM) had already brought the blaze under control.

“The damage to the SUV-style vehicle are minor,” said Johany Charland, a SPVM media relations officer. “There is no damage to the property.”

Adding that no incendiary objects were found at the scene.

According to initial information obtained from a witness, a suspect was seen setting the vehicle on fire and then fleeing before police arrived.

The SUV was towed for examination.

Grocery store fire on Jean Meunier Avenue

At around 4 a.m. also in Montreal North, a 911 call was made concerning an alarm in a commercial building — a small grocery store — located on Jean Meunier Avenue.

When police arrived on the scene a fire was put out by an unknown person, the SPVM told CityNews.

According to initial information, one or more suspects would have broken a window to get inside and set the fire, before fleeing the scene.

“Some incendiary material was found on the scene,” the SPVM said. “The damage to the building are minor.”

In the two incidents, the investigations have been transferred to the SPVM arson squad.

No arrests have been made so far in either case, investigations are ongoing.

“Can it be related? Can not? That’s what they’re going to look into it,” said Charland. “But we don’t have any information of that kind for now.”