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A 45-year-old man is facing a charge of arson after police and firefighters responded to multiple vehicle fires at a car dealership on Idylwyld Drive on Tuesday.
According to the Saskatoon Fire Department, firefighters were called to the scene shortly before 9 p.m., and four vehicles were burning when they arrived.
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The fire department said four vehicles were burning when firefighters arrived. (Marija Robinson/650 CKOM)
“A used oil container melted and spilled onto the property and ignited,” the fire department said in a statement.
“Crews advanced multiple hose lines to extinguish the fire.”
The fire melted a container holding used oil, which later ignited, the fire department said. (Marija Robinson/650 CKOM)
The Saskatoon Police Service said the fire was extinguished successfully and officers were able to identify a suspect, who was found nearby. The man is now facing an arson charge and is expected to appear in Saskatoon Provincial Court on Wednesday.
“No one was injured in the fire,” police noted.
A fire investigator was called to the scene to look into the blaze and make a damage estimate, the fire department said.
The fires happened at Nas-Motive, a car dealership on the corner of Idylwyld North and 38th Street.
Owner Naseef Rashid said he got a call saying his business was on fire at around 8:50 p.m. after people at the neighbouring Tim Horton’s who saw what was happening. After that, he said he received calls from both the Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Fire Department.
Rashid said he rushed to the dealership, but he could see the smoke all the way from Circle Drive. Once he arrived, the intersection had been closed to traffic, but the blaze was clearly visible.
(Marija Robinson/650 CKOM)
“There was a huge flame and everything, and there was explosions,” Rashid said.
The fire at the back of Nas-Motive burned four cars, along with part of the building’s exterior and the fence.
Rashid said the dealership provides oil changes, so there’s a big container on site where the oil is disposed.
According to Rashid, the person responsible, “put the fire next to that, and that’s when the cars got burned.”
He said the value of just the four cars, not including the rest of the damages, would add up to roughly $75,000.
While Rashid was still in the process of seeing what his insurance would cover on Wednesday morning, he said insurance previously covered his costs related to a break-in about five months ago, which saw multiple cars stolen from his lot.
He said the fire has been a frustrating experience.
“We are trying to help the community people with affordable vehicles, and we work hard to get them ready,” Rashid said.
“And then all of a sudden, these things happen.”
