Arson investigation underway after three restaurants in Markham set on fire: police

Const. Kevin Nebrija joins Steve Ryan to discuss the latest developments in the investigation into three possible arsons at Markham businesses.

York Regional Police have released images of two suspects after three restaurants in Markham were set on fire early Wednesday morning in what they believe are arsons.

The first fire was reported at a business near Highway 7 East and Ninth Line at around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. A second fire was reported at a business near Markham Road and Castlemore Avenue a short time later.

At 5:51 a.m., investigators arrived at a third business near Markham Road and 16^th Avenue for another reported fire.

CP24 visited the three areas and found two Pizza Hut restaurants and a Subway with fire damage. Police said the fire damage was “minimal.”

At the Subway location, the restaurant’s windows are shattered and black soot is seen on the wall. Pieces of broken glass are also scattered on the floor.

“They’re all food establishments. We don’t provide any information that would identify the victims, whether it is a business or person, but what we can say is that our investigators have spoken to the owners, and we are working hard to determine the exact motive behind these arsons,” York Regional Police media relations officer Kevin Nebrija told CP24 on Wednesday afternoon.

No injuries were reported in the three incidents.

Nebrija said investigators were able to obtain security camera footage at the third arson and it showed two suspects exiting a black Dodge Durango.

“The suspects then used an accelerant to ignite a fire at the business and fled,” police said.

They added that the vehicle was last seen speeding away westbound on 16th Avenue.

When asked if they believe the same suspects are responsible for the three arsons, Nebrija said investigators will be looking into that.

“And so our investigators are canvassing the other two arsons to determine if that same vehicle arrived. And, you know, one can’t assume, given the short timeframe these occurred, the distances within one another, where it occurred. That is something we are going to look into, whether they are all connected,” he said.