Police are investigating after two suspicious fires 1.5km apart here on June 25.
Erin firefighters responded to the first fire, an abandoned structure on 3rd Line near Sideroad 10, at about 8:15am on Sunday.
Wellington County OPP say someone reported a building “with smoke (coming) from its roof.”
While crews were extinguishing that fire, a call came in for a fire at another uninhabited structure on Wellington Road 125, south of Wellington Road 124. Hillsburgh, Erin and Rockwood fire stations responded.
The second fire produced a great deal of smoke and Wellington Road 125 was closed for several hours while crews battled the blaze.
“The fire got into the roof structure inside and because it was an abandoned building, I made the decision to go defensive on it,” said Erin Fire Chief Dan Callaghan, adding there were no injuries reported.
Both fires are being treated as suspicious.
Officials with the OPP and Erin fire department are investigating and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office was notified.
Anyone with any information about the fires is asked to contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip at www.csgw.tips. Tip providers may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
The two blazes are the latest in a string of suspicious fires in the area dating back to September.
While police have not stated any of the 19 fires are related, the OPP noted in May that investigators are conducting “forensic analysis” and “analyzing any possible relationship between the fires.”
Most of the fires were set at vacant buildings, primarily in Guelph-Eramosa and Puslinch.
Police are urging the public to report any suspicious vehicles or people in their community. The OPP asks owners of vacant buildings to secure unlocked structures, consider motion sensing cameras, ask neighbours to watch the property and make regular visits to view the property.
The other suspicious fires include:
- • house fire on Sept. 24 on 16th Line in Mapleton;
- • house fire on Oct. 14 on 3rd Line in Guelph-Eramosa;
- • house fire on Oct. 19 on 3rd Line in Guelph-Eramosa;
- • house fire on Oct. 28 on Arkell Road in Puslinch;
- • vehicle fire, Oct. 30 at 481 Townline Road in Puslinch;
- • vehicle fire on Oct. 31 on Sideroad 10 in Puslinch;
- • sawmill fire on Nov. 16 on 6th Line in Centre Wellington;
- • cabin fire between Nov. 15 and 17 on Wellington Road 29 in Guelph-Eramosa;
- • barn fire on Dec. 5 on Fife Road in Guelph;
- • the Everton mill fire on Jan. 19 on Wellington Road 49 in Guelph-Eramosa;
- • shop fire on Feb. 3 on Highway 7 in Guelph-Eramosa;
- • barn/house fire on Feb. 3 on Township Road 3 in Guelph-Eramosa;
- • hay bale fire on Feb. 15 on 3rd Line/32 Sideroad in the Town of Erin;
- • house fire on March 5 at 59 Queen Street in Morriston;
- • debris pile on March 12 on the 1st Line of Wellington North;
- • house fire, April 9 on Concession 2 in Puslinch;
- • debris pile (from previous fire) on April 25 on Concession 2 in Puslinch.
