Hamilton woman charged with arson, after massive downtown blaze
Published June 21, 2022 at 4:41 pm
A Hamilton woman has been arrested and charged in relation to the Hamilton Store Fixtures ffire downtown last weekend that took firefighters hours to quell.
The 42-year-old faces a count of arson, and additional charge. The Hamilton Police Service media release says that the investigation is related to when officers were sent “to the area of Bay Street and King Street West to assist the Hamilton Fire Department with a vacant building that was fully engulfed in flames” at 5:45 a.m. last Saturday (June 18).
That morning, a massive fire broke out in the former commercial building at 206 King West. The smoke was so heavy that residents were asked to stay inside and keep all windows and doors closed.
The building collapsed and the A&W fast-food restaurant next door suffered structural damage when parts of the building fell on its roof.
About 45 firefighters were needed to battle the blaze.
“Through investigation, the cause of the fire was deemed suspicious and an arrest has been made,” HPS said on Tuesday.
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Melissa Selman, 42, of Hamilton, faces one count of arson and one count of committing breaking-and-entering.
Anyone with further information that you might assist Hamilton piolice with this criminal investigation can contact Det. Mark Wright (905-540-5085).
Information may also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477, or crimestoppershamilton.com).
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