Police investigate suspicious fire

On Wednesday, May 21st, 2025, at approximately 02:55 hours police were dispatched to 20 Beech Street, North Sydney, NS for a report of a residential structure fire. Dispatch advised from the information they received everyone was out of the apartment complex.

Upon arrival, at approximately 03:05 hours, police observed the residence fully engulfed. Police located one of the tenants standing outside of her vehicle parked near the intersection of Victoria/Beech. tenant advised the following:

  • “I smelled smoke that’s what woke me up”
  • “The other tenant was screaming to Aaron to help her out”
  • Aaron Maxwell lives in the apartment in the back
  • There are three units total
  • “Don’t know the other tenants, but did see them get out of the house”
  • The female jumped out of the upstairs window (18 Beech) at the front of the house, and Aaron caught her
  • tenant got both her children and ran out of the house
  • Once out of the residence, tenant  put her children in her vehicle, and drove it out of the driveway
  • Tenant didn’t know where the other tenants went after that

     Deputy Fire Marshall attended scene and noted it as a suspicious fire.

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call Cape Breton Regional Police-5060. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.