As the Indian diaspora celebrated Diwali with pomp across the globe, a video of a compound engulfed in flames went viral on social media. Allegedly, the “Hindu festival Diwali caused huge fire in Milton Ontario Canada”.India Today Fact Check found the claim to be baseless.
The police have arrested three teenagers on arson charges.OUR PROBEA keyword search led us to reports by Canadian news outlets like CBC and CHCH News from November 9. According to them, a fire broke out on the evening of November 8 at an abandoned building at 700 Main Street East in Milton, which formerly housed a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and a RONA store.
None of the reports mentioned Diwali celebrations or fireworks as a possible cause. CHCH News reported that the fire was brought under control around 1.25 am on November 9.
No one was inside the building, and no serious injuries were reported. Residents of a nearby building were evacuated as a precaution.
The report added that locals had earlier complained about children entering the abandoned property.Halton Regional Police Service issued a press release on November 9, saying three 14-year-old boys from the Milton area were charged with one count each of breaking and arson. The release made no mention of Diwali celebrations or fireworks either.
A fact-check by The Canadian Press, published on November 9, debunked the same claim. It quoted Halton police Constable Jeff Dillon saying there was no information suggesting Diwali fireworks started the fire.It is therefore clear that the fire in Canada had nothing to do with Diwali celebrations.- Ends