A suspicious fire gutted the abandoned Toronto Montessori School on the Caledon-King Town Line the evening of Jan. 20.

Caledon Fire and Emergency Services responded to the old school at approximately 8:54 p.m. to find smoke and flames visible through the roof of the building’s west wing. The 911 caller reported that he could see flames on the former Montessori School property when looking south from Crestridge Drive.

Firefighters began a defensive attack with a tanker providing water to the site. Crews searched the adjoining section of the building and were able to confirm that the building was vacant at the time of the fire.

OPP K9 officers and Emergency Response Team members also performed a ground search for possible suspects or injured parties. Although no one was located, fresh footprints were found around the building.

Fire crews were able to contain the fire to the rear section of the building, preventing further damage to the larger portion of the complex.

In total it took five hours to bring the blaze under control, but firefighters remained throughout the night to overhaul the scene and work to determine the origin and cause of the fire. A Caledon OPP Scenes of Crime Officer also attended to collect evidence. The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office was notified but did not attend the scene.

The school building has been abandoned for several years and has repeatedly been the target of past vandalism. Police are asking parents to keep their children away from this and other abandoned buildings for safety reasons. Additionally, although the buildings have been abandoned for some time, it is still private property owned by developer John Spina, and is the subject of the Hi-Lands development plan, which would see four to six storey residential units, a garden courtyard, hotel and conference centre built on the property. Therefore, anyone not authorized to be on the property could be charged under the Trespass to Property Act if caught.

There were no injuries as a result of the blaze. Caledon OPP consider the fire to be suspicious and are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information or who might have been in the area at the time of the fire is asked to contact Caledon OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (905) 584-2241. Anonymous tips can be left through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at www.sdm-crimestoppers.com.