A chilling act of arson six weeks ago continues to puzzle investigators in North York, as the perpetrator remains at large. The target: Rally Sports Bar & Smokehouse, a local establishment undergoing renovations when it was deliberately set ablaze.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of September 22nd, around 5:45 a.m., triggering a two-alarm response from Toronto Fire Services. Someone had forcibly entered the bar, not to steal, but to destroy, dousing the interior with a flammable accelerant before igniting it.
The fire quickly escalated, demanding the full force of the fire department. As many as sixty firefighters battled the intense flames, utilizing multiple aerial trucks to reach the blaze that consumed the upper ceiling area.
Crews were forced to cut openings in the roof, desperately venting the suffocating heat and pulling down sections of the ceiling to gain control. Despite the extensive damage, a stroke of luck prevented any injuries during the harrowing ordeal.
Now, police are turning to the public for assistance, releasing an image of a suspect captured near the scene. The individual was last seen wearing black track pants and a grey sweatshirt, disappearing on foot after the fire was set.
Anyone with information, no matter how small, is urged to come forward. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or reach the police directly at 416-808-5500. The search for answers, and for the person responsible, continues.
