A suspicious car fire leads to drug bust in St. Clements

CTV Kitchener: Suspicious car fire A car fire nearly destroyed a house and led police to arrest a man with drug possession. It happened at a house just south of St. Clements

A broken window and peeling siding show just how close a homeowner came to having their house destroyed by fire after a car parked in the driveway erupted into flames.

It happened at just before noon on Saturday on Hessen Strasse near Willow Way Road, south of St. Clements.

Fire officials say it’s still not known how the car caught fire but both the police and the Wellesley Fire Department are investigating.

“The radiant heat from the fire was causing the siding to melt,” Township of Wellesley Fire Chief Andrew Lillico says.  “A window had cracked on the home and we were only a few minutes away from when fire and heat would have entered the residence.”

A neighbour who lives in the behind the house says he saw the flames shooting from the car and ran across the street to try to put the fire out. Moments later police and firefighters arrived on scene.

No one was home when the fire started but officials say shortly after a man who lives at the address arrived and was arrested for drug possession.

The fire is considered suspicious and the investigation remains active.

Officials say damages are costly.

“There’s thousands of dollars damage to the vehicle and $30,000 to the home.” Lillico says.

The torched car is in the possession of police for evidence.