A suspicious fire broke out in the book return area of a London community centre library over the weekend, prompting a joint response from London Fire Department crews and London Police Service investigators.

The London Fire Department responded to the incident on July 19th, with firefighters quickly containing what officials described as a “small fire” located specifically in the book return section of the facility.

According to the fire department’s social media update, the blaze has been deemed suspicious in nature, leading to an active investigation by the London Police Service Media Office. The circumstances surrounding how the fire started remain unclear as authorities work to piece together the details.

What could have been a much more serious situation was prevented thanks to early detection and rapid response. Fire officials credit quick notification of the incident as a key factor in limiting the damage to the community facility.

The swift action by London Fire Department crews proved crucial in preventing the flames from spreading beyond the book return area. Officials noted that their quick response helped limit any further damage to both the community centre and the library portions of the building.

Book return areas, in particular, can present unique fire risks due to the concentration of paper materials in a confined space. These drop-off zones are typically accessible to the public outside of regular operating hours, which can sometimes make them targets for vandalism or other suspicious activity.

While the investigation continues, the incident appears to have been resolved without any reported injuries to staff, patrons, or emergency responders. The quick containment also means that library services and community centre operations are likely to resume with minimal disruption.