Three 14-year-olds charged with arson after overnight fire at vacant former ReStore on Main Street East
Three 14-year-olds from the Milton area each face arson and break-and-enter charges after an overnight fire at the vacant former ReStore at 700 Main Street East. Halton police deem the origin suspicious; the charges have not been proven in court.
The details
What happened
Milton Fire & Rescue Services contained a major structure fire at the vacant former Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 700 Main Street East, bringing it under control about 1:25 a.m. on November 9 after it was reported about 6:24 p.m. the evening before. The Town said the building was abandoned and had no occupants when the fire started. Halton Regional Police put the time crews responded to reports of smoke and flames at about 6:30 p.m. on November 8.
About 48 firefighters, including command personnel, were committed to the fire and the evacuation, the Town said, while other crews maintained emergency coverage elsewhere in town. Police reported no serious injuries.
Evacuation and shelter
Crews evacuated residents of a neighbouring residential building as a precaution because of the fire's proximity; the Town described it as an apartment building and police as a condominium. Milton Transit provided buses for temporary shelter and transportation to a warming centre set up at Memorial Arena. Residents were later allowed back into their homes once the smoke had been mitigated, the Town said.
The charges
Halton Regional Police said its 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau took carriage of the case, considers the fire's origin to be suspicious, and identified three suspects. Three youths, each 14 years old and from the Milton area, have each been charged with one count of break and enter and one count of arson.
The accused are not named: a general provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits identifying a young person. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
- 700 Main Street East, vacant former Habitat for Humanity ReStore
- About 6:24 p.m., Nov. 8 (police: about 6:30 p.m.)
- About 1:25 a.m., Nov. 9
- About 48 (Milton Fire & Rescue Services)
- Considered suspicious (Halton police)
- Three youths, each 14, from the Milton area
- One count of break and enter; one count of arson
What happens next
The Town said the Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified and that the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Halton Regional Police asked anyone with information to contact its 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2416. MiltonIQ will update this story as police or the Town provide further information.
Sources
Halton Regional Police Service
Three Charged in Milton Fire Investigation