LINDSAY - A tenant of a downtown Lindsay building that went up in flames Friday has been charged with starting the massive blaze.
Investigators believe the fire that destroyed the three-storey structure home to the Lindsay Irish House at 7 William St. S was deliberately set in two separate locations, City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service stated Saturday morning.
Ronald Rich, 60, of the building was arrested and charged late Friday night after police interviewed several witnesses.
He appeared for before a justice of the peace for a video remand Saturday in Lindsay court arraigned on charges of arson endangering life, causing damage to property, mischief over $5,000 and breach of probation.
A damage estimate has not been determined and police continue to secure the downtown scene until investigators with the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office arrive. The building, which was for sale, was listed on the market for more than $600,000.
More than 40 firefighters from halls in Lindsay, Ops, Omemee, Dunsford, Emily, Oakwood and Fenelon Falls battled most of the day to extinguish the spectacular blaze, which broke out about 11 a.m.
The tenants of the 16 apartments could only stand and watch as their homes were destroyed by the flames. In all, 14 residents of the building were displaced.
They received financial assistance from Victoria County Disaster Relief Fund, who put them up in the Admiral Inn for the night.
The office of The Lindsay Post next door to the fire at 17 William St. S was also left without power for the rest of the day after fire officials asked Hydro One cut power in the immediate vicinity of the blaze.
Thick, black smoke from the blaze at times blocked out the sun, turning the intersection of Kent and William streets from day to night. Smoke billowed north from the building, leaving the downtown core in a haze.
Kent Street was closed between Cambridge and William streets. William Street itself was also closed off to allow firefighters two work. Both city aerial trucks were in use as crews poured water onto the fire.
Firefighters first responding to a fire alarm arrived to find smoke coming out of the northwest corner of the second floor of the building, said assistant fire chief Ron Raymer, in charge of the scene. They did their best to knock the fire down, but it quickly spread into the walls and ceilings, he said.
Firefighters using the Bronto Skylift to get on top of the building cut several holes in the roof to spray water down in, but it would not be enough. Flames soon exploded out several of the front windows of the building on the third floor.
Firefighters then forced out of the building could then only douse the burning building from the outside in what fire Chief Dave Guilbault called a defensive attack.
The priority at that point then became keeping the fire contained within the brick structure, Raymer said. The building's balloon construction ultimately led to its demise.
"A building like this ... nobody is going to save," he said. "It is essentially going to collapse to the inside of the building. There is not a lot we can do."
There were no serious injuries caused as a result of the fire. One firefighter did, however, fall though a hold near a staircase on the third floor, but was not seriously hurt, Raymer said. Three cats were rescued.
The extinguishing effort lasted long into the night and crews continued to put out hot spots Saturday.
Dozens of onlookers took in the blaze throughout the day from beyond the yellow tape cordoning off the scene. Many took pictures and video. The steady stream of curious citizens well into weekend.
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Hmm, that's ONE way to renovate xD
GingaDensetsuCarlene 2 years ago
well they tore it down it was unsafe and as far as I know they are not rebuilding it
JonRut101 2 years ago