Toronto police are investigating a one-alarm fire at Toronto’s Old City Hall that officials say was deliberately set on Monday evening.
Toronto Fire Services Chief Matthew Pegg said firefighters were called to the southeast corner of the building just after 8 p.m.
In an update later Monday night, Pegg told Global News in a statement that investigators have evidence that the fire may have been deliberate.
“[It] appears to be suspicious based upon our initial scene assessment,” he said.
Toronto Fire officials confirmed to Global News on Tuesday the fire was deliberately set.
Toronto police also said in an update on Twitter Monday night that a small fire was “set” in a room and that there was another fire in another room. Police said the fire “may have been deliberately set.”
The Office of the Fire Marshal was called in to assist with determining the origin, cause, and circumstances leading up to the fire.
The building, which officially opened in 1899, currently operates as a Ontario Court of Justice courthouse and hears criminal cases.
Meanwhile, Pegg credited the sprinkler system for controlling the fire until crews arrived and praised firefighters for their quick work.
“[Firefighters] controlled it very quickly. That’s why this fire actually never escalated,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic old building … always a tragedy when we see fires happen in these types of buildings.”
Link to original article in Global News.ca: Fire at Toronto’s Old City Hall was deliberately set, officials say