RNC investigating suspicious business fires

Suspected arsons in St. John’s metro area target commercial properties

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) is interested in any tips the public can share about a pair of suspicious fires targeting businesses that occurred late this week in the St. John's metro area.

Const. James Cadigan, the RNC'S media relations officer, confirmed police suspect arson was the cause of a small fire Thursday morning, Oct. 21, in the basement of Barking Beauties on Commonwealth Avenue in Mount Pearl and another fire Friday morning, Oct. 22, at the Evergreen Recycling location on Blackmarsh Road in St. John's. He added police at this time do not suspect the incidents are connected.

Firefighters made quick work of Friday's fire, which was initially reported by a passerby. Firefighters arrived on Blackmarsh Road at about 5:30 a.m. and found a pile of wooden pallets and debris on fire next to a rear section of the building.

Once the blaze was extinguished, firefighters cut away some exterior metal siding to check whether it extended further into the building.

An official at the scene of Thursday's fire at the Mount Pearl dog-grooming business indicated there was evidence of forced entry at the scene of the fire, which was extinguished quickly. Staff on the main floor of the building reported it. There were no injuries in either incident.

Cadigan said police would be keen to access security footage or hear from anyone who noticed suspicious activity in the areas where the fires occurred Thursday and Friday.

"We want try and locate any suspects, so any information that anyone might have around suspicious activity in the area would be valuable," he said.