Windsor police said they were likely looking for a group of teenagers with singed hair and burned legs Friday after somebody torched a new building with high-powered accelerant.
“The only way up and down from that upper unit is by way of a ladder,” said Det. Glenn Gervais with the Windsor police arson unit. “There’s no stairwell yet. If there were several people up there, for them to get down from that stairwell with the way that fire was going, there’s a good chance there are people out there running around with singed hair, burned eyebrows. The people that are on video could have burned hair on their legs, forearms. When a fire erupts this fast, there’s a good chance somebody might have been hurt.”
The fire, at 3001 Dougall Ave., caused more than $200,000 in damage. Police released video surveillance Friday afternoon of people fleeing from the scene of the crime, a new plaza under construction.
A resident’s home surveillance system caught three “persons of interest” on video. They are all white males and about 18 years old with thin builds. Two of them were riding BMX-style bicycles. The third was running carrying a backpack.
They were last seen going west on West Grand Boulevard, then south on Avondale. Police believe they live in the area.
Police said Thursday’s fire might be connected to a string of other problems in the area.
“We’ve had other incidents in this area we’ve been concerned about recently, basically from the Roundhouse Centre to Dominion, all along the West Grand Marais ditch area,” said Gervais. “Incidents of mischief, graffiti, nuisance-type things that are indicative of teenagers or young adults causing problems. It may be an indication that the same people were here.”
Police responded Thursday around 10:30 p.m. When they arrived, firefighters were already there battling the blaze, which caused a blackout and forced the closure of Dougall in both directions.
Neighbours keeping an eye on the area told police they heard what sounded like “older teenagers or younger adults” partying in the building. The evidence police collected Friday included beer bottles.
“It sounds like kids were partying, talking, possibly drinking,” said Gervais. “Shortly after they heard those sounds, they heard somebody scream, then the second storey of this building erupted in flames.”
He said the fire burned hot and fast. Gervais said the contractor had a can of highly flammable liquid at the building used for priming brick to waterproof it.
“The concern is what was used was something that was many, many more times powerful than gasoline,” said Gervais. “An extremely dangerous type of accelerant. There are all kinds of warnings about this stuff. Very, very flammable. Even a cigarette or an open flame nearby can ignite it. Based on the video surveillance that we got from the neighbourhood, these kids were running from the building almost immediately.”
The fire engulfed the building in minutes. Watching it burn brought building owner Andre Abouasli to tears.
“I just went upstairs now and just did not expect it to be this way,” he said at the scene. “The second floor is burned on the inside all the way in.”
“Me and my wife, we just work our asses off 10, 12 hours a day to just continue and make this happen. It’s devastating. You can’t imagine something like this. It’s like my baby, I’ve been working on this for two and a half years, then something like this happens.”
He said Friday he was “heartbroken.”
“I hope they get caught and learn a lesson out of this, because this is something that is not right,” said Abouasli. “If they are over 18, I hope they get punished for this, because this is not right, this is not fair. If they’re under 18 I hope their parents learn a lesson because this is not a way to raise kids. It’s just devastating.”
Sgt. Glenn Gervais talks to the media outside of the the scene of an over night fire in Windsor on Friday, July 26, 2013. Police suspect the fire may have been deliberately set. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)
A new commercial development is seen after an over night fire in Windsor on Friday, July 26, 2013. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)
Building owner Andre Abouasli talks with media outside of the scene of an over night fire in Windsor on Friday, July 26, 2013. Police suspect the fire may have been deliberately set. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)
Sgt. Glenn Gervais searches for evidence outside of the the scene of an over night fire in Windsor on Friday, July 26, 2013. Police suspect the fire may have been deliberately set. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)
Andre Abouasli climbs a ladders to see the damage to the second floor after an over night fire in Windsor on Friday, July 26, 2013. Police suspect the fire may have been deliberately set. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)
A new commercial development is seen after an over night fire in Windsor on Friday, July 26, 2013. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)
Sgt. Glenn Gervais (centre) is joined by insurance adjusters as he tours the the scene of an over night fire in Windsor on Friday, July 26, 2013. Police suspect the fire may have been deliberately set. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)
