A potential house fire in Toronto's Little Italy neighbourhood was stopped by a quick-thinking neighbour Tuesday, and police are investigating whether the incident is linked to a series of arson attacks.
A neighbour spotted the fire on the back porch of a house around Clinton and College streets, and quickly extinguished the flames before they grew out of control.
Firefighter Cpt. David Cranswick told CTV News that there was propane around the site of the flames.
"If somebody was lighting that fire, the hope was that maybe the propane would make it more spectacular," he said. "But a neighbour put it out before we arrived, and that probably saved a lot of damage."
Police are investigating whether the fire was deliberately set, and can be linked to a series of arson attacks throughout the west end.
Investigators are looking for one or more suspects in the following incidents:
On July 2, a deliberately-set fire damaged several homes, garages and vehicles around Christie Pitts park.
Several fires were set between July 30 and July 31 on Queen Street West near Stachan Avenue, damaging garages and waste disposal bins.
A newly-built townhouse near Sudbury and Florence streets was damaged by a fire on August 10, along with two other structures.
Firefighters and police are advising residents to keep propane tanks out of sight and backyards clear of debris.
Anyone with information can phone police at 416-808-1404, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
