Provincial police are investigating two fires that occurred in the same Oro-Medonte Township subdivision on Bass Lake Side Road at Line 3.
On Jan. 20, shortly after 6 am, police and firefighters responded to a wind-driven fire that destroyed one home and spread to a neighbouring unoccupied home under construction. Firefighting efforts were delayed, as the subdivision had not been fully assumed, so crews had to locate and dig out the fire hydrants. Damage to the homes was about $1 million.
Then just before midnight on Feb. 10, emergency crews responded to a fire at an unoccupied home. The damage in this incident was $1.5 million.
"At this time, there is no threat to public safety," police said in a news release. " Investigators are actively working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incidents, and the investigation remains ongoing by the Orillia OPP with assistance from the Orillia OPP Crime Unit."
If anyone has information that can assist investigators, the public is asked to call Orillia OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at https://ontariocrimestoppers.ca/
