Hamilton arson probe underway following break-and-enter incident

Published June 1, 2023 at 10:39 am

Hamilton police have launched an arson investigation this morning (June 1) after they were called to a break-and-enter incident.

Police were called about the break-in at 1700 Brampton Street shortly after 2:30 a.m., the force confirmed to inthehammer.com in an email.

Officers found smoke coming from the building and called firefighters. Fire crews responded to smoke in the area shortly after 2:46 a.m., Trevor Haalstra, assistant deputy chief of the Hamilton Fire Department, told inthehammer.com. They found a “large volume of smoke” so they upgraded the alarm to a first alarm structure fire, he said. Crews extinguished the blaze.

Police determined the fire was “suspicious.” The force’s arson unit is on the scene investigating the incident. “Limited details” can be released since the police investigation is ongoing, Haalstra said.

The building appeared to be an office building in east Hamilton with a “Units for Lease” sign, according to Google Maps.

Police had flown a drone, or remotely piloted aerial system, in the area of Parkdale Avenue North and Brampton Street as part of the investigation.