It was the British and they didnt burn it to the ground so I’m not sure why people think thats what happened. It was a retaliation attack for the US fighting in Canada, sure. But they weren’t Canadian troops.
They didnt burn it to the ground because the building burnt too fast for them to get the fire hot enough. The outer walls and bits inside were still standing. I believe the British even ate dinner in the house because the chef had prepared it for the president or something but I couldn’t find a source for that.
Is it worth your reaching out to the EFF? It sounds like you may like to work with them. Granted, I dont know if they have much to do with Europe or if they’re just a US thing.
Also possible you’ve discussed this somewhere. I’m just an advocate for pooling knowledge and resources.