Two more fires at abandoned homes in Elora

Small fires were discovered in two abandoned homes in Elora Monday morning.

Construction crews arrived in the area of Ross Street near Wellington Road 7 around 8:52 a.m. and detected smoke coming from the houses, Ontario Provincial Police said in a release. Blown Away Glass and LRW Truck Parts are also located at this intersection.

• Suspicious fires near Guelph prompt fire marshal to meet with police
• Fires in abandoned homes lead Wellington County OPP to issue warning
• Car seen fleeing areas where house, barn destroyed by fire

The fires appear to have been set overnight in the basements of both of the homes, police said. The fires were small and easily extinguished.

How the fires were started is still under investigation.

Police and an investigator from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal are investigating.

It is the latest in a string of fires at abandoned buildings in Wellington county and Guelph.

Other fires include:

• Oct. 14 at 6:05 a.m. – Fire at abandoned farmhouse on the Third Line of Guelph-Eramosa Township.
• Oct. 19 at 5:30 a.m. – Fire at an abandoned farmhouse on the Third Line of Guelph-Eramosa Township.
• Oct. 28 at 5:52 a.m. – Fire at a vacant home on Arkell Road near the Nassagaweya-Puslinch Townline in Puslich Twp.
• Nov. 16 at 2 a.m. – Fire at a sawmill on Sixth Line, east of Fergus, destroys several palettes of hardwood.
• Nov. 18 – Fire at a vacant cabin located approximately 1 km from the roadway near Wellington Road 29 and Barden Street, Guelph-Eramosa Township. The building was completely destroyed sometime between Nov. 15 and Nov. 18 and the charred remains were found by the owner.
• Dec. 05 at 1:19 a.m. – Fire at an abandoned shed and barn at 604 Silvercreek Pkwy N., Guelph. The property is owned by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.
• Dec. 05 at 3:36 a.m. – Fire at an abandoned barn south of Guelph on Fife Road.
• Dec. 09 at 10 a.m. – a large shed was discovered on fire at the site of the former Royal City Nursery in Guelph, 305 Woodlawn Rd W. It appeared the building was being used by squatters and there was a wood stove being used inside the shed.
• Jan. 19 at 3:15 a.m. – Fire at historic Hortop's Mill near Everton, Ont.
• Feb. 3 at 3 a.m. – Fire at an abandoned golf driving range building on Highway 7 west of Guelph. While on scene, a second fire at an abandoned barn and house on Township Road 3, just east of the driving range, is noticed.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact their local detachment or Crime Stoppers.