Goods set ablaze at Barton Street East Dollarama causing $1.2-million in damage

Firefighters extinguished a blaze at a Barton Street East Dollarama store but not before the suspected arson caused significant damage in two aisles.

First responders were called to the Stadium Mall plaza outlet at Gage Avenue North and Barton after 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

A 911 caller reported that a customer" had set fire to goods at the chain dollar store.

Walls of discount foodstuffs and other merchandise costing $5-or-less were torched in the incident.

Responding firefighters found heavy smoke" in the burning store - enough smoke to affect adjacent businesses, they said in an email. The plaza is also home to grocery store FreshCo, rent-to-own company Easyhome, discount warehouse Mr. Liquidation, Loco Bins and Little Rays Reptile Zoo and Nature Centre.

Smoke from the fire made its way into some of those neighbouring businesses.

The smell of smoke was present in the large pet store at the rear of the plaza, but no animals were harmed," said Little Rays' employee Joshua Durand.

Firefighters made quick work of the dollar store blaze, however fire and smoke caused approximately $1.2 million in damage.

Hamilton's health department was called in, as was the Fire Marshal's Office to investigate the suspicious fire.

All customers and employees were able to leave safely; there were no injuries reported.

Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com