Montreal firefighters

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

In a concerning series of events, another vehicle was engulfed in flames last week in the driveway of a residential property in Pointe-Claire, marking the second suspicious fire the same week in what appears to be an escalating pattern of arson incidents in the West Island.

The latest incident brought Montreal firefighters to a home located on Pendennis Avenue near Hilary Avenue. After firefighters tamed the blaze, investigators made a troubling discovery of traces of accelerant on another vehicle parked in a nearby driveway. The first targeted vehicle was completely destroyed with significant collateral damage caused to the residence.

This event follows on the heels of another vehicle fire reported just a day earlier when flames consumed a car parked in a residential driveway on Hastings Avenue near Empress Avenue in Pointe-Claire. The proximity and timing of these incidents prompted the SPVM’s arson squad to take charge of both investigations.

The pattern mirrors similar incidents across West Island communities. In Dollard-des-Ormeaux (DDO), residents have been grappling with their own wave of vehicle fires, particularly concentrated on Louis-Riel Street. The community there witnessed three vehicles set ablaze within a 48-hour period recently with two of the incidents occurring in the evening hours around 8 p.m., followed by a third in the early morning.

Kirkland residents have not been spared from this troubling trend, with multiple arson attacks targeting three residences on the same street. These incidents have sent ripples of concern through these typically peaceful neighbourhoods, challenging the long-held perception of the West Island as one of the Greater Montreal Area’s safest regions.

As authorities delve deeper into these cases, the SPVM has heightened its presence in affected areas, deploying additional patrols to maintain public safety and gather information. While investigators work to unravel the connections between these incidents, local communities remain vigilant while their overall sense of security is tested by these troubling events. n