Damage from Westdale highrise fire pegged at $250,000

A suspicious fire over the weekend at a Westdale apartment building caused about $250,000 in damages, Hamilton police say.

Emergency crews responded to the highrise at 44 Glen Rd., near Main and Macklin streets, around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday for reports of a multiple-alarm structure fire.

Smoke could be seen billowing out of a unit on the 11th floor. Its balcony was covered in soot and windows were shattered.

The blaze was quickly knocked down upon entry.

Const. Indy Bharaj said police responded to the scene because of a mental-health call. He said one person died during the incident, but not as a result of the fire or any involvement with emergency crews.

Ontario's coroner is investigating the death.

Bharaj said the police criminal investigations branch will resume its probe into the fire pending post-mortem results.

Sebastian Bron is a reporter at The Spectator. sbron@thespec.com