East end vehicle fires tied to tow truck turf war?

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Are the recent spate of arsons at garages in the GTA linked to the current chaos rattling the southern Ontario underworld?

In the wake of a series of vehicle fires early Friday in the city’s east end, longtime underworld watcher James Dubro told The Toronto Sun that the towing and body shop business has long been a mob activity, along with Hells Angels.

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However, the city’s doyen of organized crime said linking the murder attempt on Hamilton mob chieftain Pat Musitano to chaos in the towing business “may be a stretch.”

“There is a turf war in the mafia in Ontario and it might be related to tow truck turf war or not. It would be surprising to me if the current conflict and violence is not connected to organized crime,” Dubro said.

He cited an official report in Montreal that found the tow truck industry was controlled by organized crime.

“The use of intimidation and extortion and violence, including murder, are all staples of mob activity,” Dubro added.

In Toronto, the Musitano crime family (based in Hamilton ) has been involved in these activities in the past as well as some prominent Hells Angel bikers, Dubro said.

He also noted the Musitano crime family’s long time record of arson.

But the torches may be connected to newer mob cells emerging in the GTA.

While investigators consider Friday morning’s fires suspicious,” they have yet to determine if the incidents are connected.

Toronto Fire Services first received a call at 12:45 a.m. regarding a Porsche Panamera on fire at a home near Kingston Rd. and Main St.

“A neighbour reported that a car in a driveway was burning. Everyone was out of the house and trying to suppress the fire. The flames didn’t extend to the house, but smoke did get into the basement,” said Fire Chief David Eckerman, adding once the fire was out the scene was turned over to police.

At 1:12 a.m., firefighters were called to an auto body shop on Sinnott Rd. — near Eglinton and Warden Aves.

“The initial caller was a passerby,” Eckerman said. “Two cars were on fire, but (the flames) spread (to five cars).”

Then at 1:23 a.m. there was a call to highrise at 123 Bellamy Rd., near Eglington Ave. E..

“There was a tow truck in the parking lot on fire and we found an accelerate at the scene,” Eckerman said. “A vehicle was seen speeding from the area, but we don’t know where it originated from.”

Toronto Police spokesman Katrina Arrogantehe said the cause of the fires has yet to be determined.

“They are being investigated as suspicious,” she said.