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The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is currently investigating several suspicious fires including the fire on Towers Street that occurred on August 1st of this year.  

It is estimated in the last 5 years the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and Sault Fire Services have investigated approximately 20 fires that are suspicious in nature.  Some of the fires have been in areas close to homes and others have been in receptacles such as large dumpsters

Most arsons or suspicious fires are started outdoors.  Don’t make it easy for a fire to start or spread to a building.

There are several steps that can be taken to reduce the incidents of arson:

-keep leaves, firewood, overgrown brush and shrubbery and other combustibles away from buildings

-keep doors and windows locked when a building is unoccupied.  Board up abandoned buildings.

-do not use double cylinder deadbolt locks without keeping a key nearby, bars without quick release mechanisms or other security provisions that could trap a person in a building with a deadly fire.

-store all flammable liquids such as paints, gasoline and mowers in an approved storage location and away from heat sources such as furnaces and other types of heaters.  Locked cabinets, locked storage units and locked garages will prevent access to flammable liquids.

-consider installing motion sensor lights and surveillance cameras.

-report suspicious activity near houses or other buildings to the police.

If you have any information on these fires contact the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service at 705-949-6300.  You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477 if you wish to remain anonymous.

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