Etobicoke Burger’s Priest target of 4th arson attempt since early June: Cops

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Toronto Police are investigating a fire at a popular burger restaurant in Etobicoke early Tuesday, the latest in a string of what cops said are suspected arsons at the establishment.

Fire crews were called to The Burger’s Priest at 1599 The Queensway, just east of The East Mall, at about 3:20 a.m. for an interior fire that had spread to the roof. Cops said a person broke into the building, poured an accelerant and ignited it, causing “significant” damage inside.

The blaze was extinguished and crews — along with police — were still on scene monitoring hot spots by Tuesday afternoon.

Cops told 680 NewsRadio that cleaning staff was inside the restaurant when a suspect began setting the fire.

A fire investigator has been notified, a spokesperson for Toronto Fire said, and police are looking for a suspect who was wearing a light-coloured long-sleeve shirt with a dark hood, dark pants and dark shoes and was carrying a red jerry can in a blue bag at the time.

According to security footage from John Kantelberg, owner of California Sandwiches next door, an individual kicked in a window pane on the side of the restaurant and went inside around 3 a.m.

As they crawled out, they lit a match resulting in a “crazy explosion,” the Toronto Sun was told.

A nearby business owner told CP24 that the restaurant was hit with another fire last week that appeared to be deliberately set, which was confirmed by police Tuesday evening.

“Last week it was like I was watching a Terminator movie,” the man said.

“Two guys go along the building, go inside … light a fire and almost blew themselves up.”

Police said there were actually two other similar arson-related incidents last week and another reported in early June.

“The same restaurant establishment was involved in each incident,” Const. Cindy Chung said in a release. “Investigators believe the incidents are related.”

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Police responded to a fire call Saturday at about 4 a.m. after one of two suspects poured an accelerant and caused minor fire damage to the outside of the restaurant. The first suspect was wearing a dark, possible blue high-visibility suit, while the second was wearing a dark sweater, shorts, red shoes and a backpack.

That was after cops responded to a fire call July 9 at about 2 a.m., where two suspects again poured an accelerant and caused minor damage to an outdoor vestibule. They were wearing all-dark clothing and carrying a red jerry can in a black plastic bag.

Then on June 7 at about 1:30 a.m., two suspects again broke into the restaurant and caused minor fire damage to the entrance. There was information on only one of the suspects, who was wearing a light-coloured tracksuit and shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-2200.

— With files from Ernest Doroszuk and Jordan Ercit.