Arson unit investigating after fire damages four businesses at Kanata strip mall
The Ottawa Police Arson Unit is investigating an early morning fire at a Kanata strip mall that damaged several businesses.
A 9-1-1 caller reported heavy smoke coming from the roof of the mall on Hazeldean Road at Castlefrank Road at approximately 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.
"Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed heavy black smoke and flames coming from the roof in a large one-storey commercial plaza," Ottawa Fire Services spokesperson Nick DeFazio said.
"Firefighters were met with high heat conditions when making entry to the structure and the roof was at risk of collapsing, creating a hazard on scene for fire crews."
Firefighters declared a second alarm to dispatch additional resources to the scene.
The fire spread through the roof and walls of four units, but firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread through all 15 units in the complex.
Eggroll Plus is of the businesses damaged in an early morning fire at a Kanata strip mall on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Peter Szperling/CTV Viewer)
DeFazio says the fire started in a business before spreading.
No one was inside the building at the time of the fire, and there are no reports of injuries.
Ottawa police said Tuesday afternoon that the damage caused by the fire is estimated in the millions of dollars.
The businesses damaged include Fakahany Produce and Eggroll Plus.
Wine Villa owner Michelle Varteniuk said the strip mall's roof has been destroyed.
Wine Villa is of the businesses damaged in an early morning fire at a Kanata strip mall on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Peter Szperling/CTV Viewer)
"Well, I'm not allowed to go back into my store for between 24, 48 hours, just because there's issues with the roof of the whole building," she said. "I have no roof at all in my store.”
She added much of her stock survived the fire.
"Hopefully I'm going to be up and running within a month or so... Nothing of the wines have been broken or anything like that. So, I mean, there's damage. I would say not minimal, but livable."
Police are looking for anyone with dash camera or video surveillance footage of suspicious activity in the area of Castlefrank Road and Hazeldean Road between 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Arson Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 4587 or by email at arson@ottawapolice.ca.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
--with files from CTV News Ottawa's Peter Szperling
Correction
Ottawa Fire Services initially said the fire started in a Chinese food restaurant in the Hazeldean Road strip mall. Officials now say the fire started in the business next to the restaurant and spread.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel intensifies bombardment of Gaza and southern Lebanon on the eve of Oct. 7 anniversary
A new round of airstrikes hit Beirut suburbs late Sunday as Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon in a widening war with Iran-allied militant groups across the region. Palestinian officials said a strike on a mosque in Gaza killed at least 19 people.
Hurricane Milton is growing stronger as it blows toward Florida's Tampa Bay region
People across Florida were given notice Sunday that Hurricane Milton is intensifying rapidly and will likely be a major hurricane before slamming midweek into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.
The cooking method you need to learn to get excited about vegetables this fall, expert says
'Eat more vegetables,' doctors and dietitians say over and over. But for many people, it’s hard to do, because they aren’t excited about veggies or just don’t like them.
A year into the Israel-Hamas war, students say a chill on free speech has reached college classrooms
As a junior at George Washington University, Ty Lindia meets new students every day. But with the shadow of the Israel-Hamas war hanging over the Washington, D.C., campus, where everyone has a political opinion, each new encounter is fraught.
New Far North hospital moves closer to being built after $1.8B design, build contract awarded
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Government of Ontario have awarded a $1.8 billion fixed-price contract to design, build and finance a new Far North hospital.
'Environmental racism': First Nations leaders claim cancer-causing contamination was covered up
The people of Fort Chipewyan believe the federal government knew its water was contaminated and hid the issue for years. Now the chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is leading the call for immediate action.
Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, dead at 63
Christopher Ciccone, a multihyphenate artist, dancer, designer and younger brother of Madonna, has died. He was 63.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
Oh my gourd: B.C.'s giant pumpkin weigh-off declares winner
A gargantuan gourd – affectionately named ‘Orangina’ by the urban gardeners who grew it in the front yard of their Vancouver home – earned the massive honour of being named B.C.’s heaviest giant pumpkin Saturday.