Hamilton strip mall fire leaves trail of destruction, businesses reeling

Shocking video from Hamilton Mountain early Sunday morning captures the moment a group of individuals set fire to a strip mall, torching several businesses and causing over a million dollars in damage.

Fire crews were first alerted to the blaze shortly before 3 a.m., on Hamilton’s east mountain. By the time they arrived, the inferno was already well underway.

“Through video surveillance, we’ve been able to establish this as an arson, and we are treating it as a suspicious fire,” said Det. Greg Blunsdon with Hamilton police.

Three people carrying jerry cans can be seen walking up to a nail salon near Upper Ottawa Street and Stone Church Road, shortly before 3 a.m.

Moments later, it erupts in flames and they can be seen running away.

“There are two stores that are heavily affected, another has smoke damage and another store has water damage,” said Blunsdon. “We’re estimating it’s going to be over a $1 million to get these stores back into working order, and the city is out right now looking for any structural damage relating to the fire.”

Thankfully no one was injured, but the salon that the fire was started in has been completely destroyed.

Also badly damaged is the discount liquidation store, and Red Swan Pizza on either side.

Throughout Sunday, officials from the Fire Marshall’s Office, police investigators, and city workers probed through the remains.

At this time, police have not released any suspect information or a possible motive for such an attack, and those who live in the area say this kind of thing is highly unusual.

Anyone with any information is being asked to contact Hamilton police’s Break and Enter, Auto Theft and Robbery (BEAR) unit.

Alternatively anyone who would like to stay anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 905-522-TIPS (8477).

READ MORE: No one injured after suspicious fire destroys Hamilton east mountain salon