Hamilton police charge Cambridge man in Burton Street arson

Hamilton police have charged a Cambridge man in connection to an arson in the central city last month.

In the early-morning hours of Dec. 5, officers were called to a fire at a home on Burton Street, which runs between Victoria Avenue North and Wentworth Street North.

A family with three children were asleep inside the house at the time of the blaze, which saw someone set fire to the home's wooden front porch and its contents, including a patio chair, car seat and toboggan.

However, a neighbour extinguished the fire and alerted the family inside, according to police.

Without the assistance of this person the fire could have resulted in a tragedy," police said, in a release.

A 32-year-old Cambridge man has been charged with arson (disregard for human life) and failing to comply with a probation order.

In a media release, police and the family thanked the community for their help identifying the alleged suspect.

The family was able to enjoy the holidays knowing the suspect was held in custody," added police.

Const. Indy Bharaj told The Spectator that the man was already in police custody for a separate incident when he was identified as a suspect. He could not confirm whether the man was known to the family.

Bharaj had previously told The Spectator that the family was co-operating with police and that they were fearful, because they do not know who could have done this or why."

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com