Apartment parking garage fire deemed suspicious, residents relocated

Dozens of residents of a multi-story apartment building were forced to evacuate their units Thursday night after a reported vehicle fire just behind WRHN @ Midtown (formally known as Grand River Hospital) in Kitchener.

It was just before midnight when Kitchener Fire received a call for that blaze at an eight-storey apartment building on York Street, prompting a response that included seven fire trucks.

According to the fire department, the flames were said to have originated in the apartment’s underground parking garage; a gas-powered vehicle somehow caught fire, with the blaze spreading to three nearby vehicles.

Sunday afternoon, Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) announced the fire was being treated as suspicious.

“An unknown suspect is believed to have intentionally ignited the fire in the parking garage, resulting in significant damage to multiple motor vehicles and portions of the building’s structure.” read a release.

Heavy smoke in the parking garage posed a challenge for firefighters at the time.

A release from the fire department also noted that smoke was reported by residents on all floors of the apartment. Two people were treated for smoke inhalation, including one person who needed to be transferred to a local hospital.

Dozens of residents have since been relocated while repairs and safety checks are underway, according to WRPS.

There is no damage estimate available for the fire.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.