Brett Thoms
Quyon February 12, 2023
MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais police say they are investigating a suspicious fire that occurred Sunday morning at Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa in Quyon.
B’nai Brith Canada is a Jewish service organization and advocacy group that has been operating the summer camp in Quyon for decades.
According to a press release by the MRC des Collines police, one building caught fire starting at 4:30 a.m., with another starting shortly after the firefighters arrived.
Three hours after the arrival of the Municipality of Pontiac Fire Department, the investigation was transferred to the police due to elements at the scene suggesting the possibility of arson.
The two buildings that were affected were the water treatment facility and a storage unit. No one was injured and the fire won’t affect the ability of the staff to offer services this summer, according to a Facebook post made by Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa.
The amount of damage is currently estimated at nearly $600,000, according to the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais
“At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that this was an anti-Semitic or racially motivated act. However, it is still too early in the investigation to rule out this possibility,” wrote Martin Fornell, the communications officer for the MRC des Collines police. Fornell told THE EQUITY that the story was getting attention from as far away as Montreal.
The MRC des Collines police said no further information would be released until the investigation on the cause of the fire is concluded in order to not impede the investigation.
