‘Significant’ fires hit building, garage in downtown Hamilton
Published July 18, 2023 at 3:55 pm
Fires engulfed a building and garage area in two separate incidents in downtown Hamilton earlier today, with one of the incidents considered “suspicious.”
There were no reported injuries.
Hamilton police’s arson unit is investigating a fire at 25 Hess St. S., near the corner of George Street, in Hess Village, the Hamilton Fire Department announced in a press release Tuesday (July 18).
Fire Chief David Cunliffe said crews received multiple reports of a structure fire at 4:41 this morning. Firefighters arrived to find a large fire at the three-storey building that housed a restaurant, he said.
They saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the outside and the first floor of the building.
Crews aggressively battled the blaze and brought it under control before it spread to the second and third floors, the fire chief said.
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The first floor “sustained significant fire damage.” The second and third floor of the building suffered smoke damage.
“Based on information received at the scene, the nature of the fire is being considered suspicious,” Cunliffe said.
The fire damage is estimated at over $500,000.
The fire department said it was not releasing any more information about the case.
Second fire sees over $50,000 in damages
In the second incident, crews were dispatched after midnight Tuesday to 225 East Avenue North. Crews reported heavy smoke coming from the parking level garage area of the four-storey building. They later upgraded the blaze to a multiple alarm fire so more crews and resources were sent to help. At the garage, firefighters found a vehicle on fire, which they extinguished before it spread into the building.
They then cleared smoke from the garage and building, the fire chief said. Residents were allowed back into the building after crews conducted air monitoring tests. No injuries were reported.
Fire damages to a vehicle and the building were estimated to be over $50,000.
“While the specific cause of the fire is undetermined, (the fire) is not considered suspicious,” the fire chief said.
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