Ontario Provincial Police have charged a man with arson after a fire at a King Street apartment building in Orillia.
Around 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, OPP responded to a call from the Orillia Fire Department (OFD) about a fire in the building.
"Officers attended the scene and observed the OFD extinguishing the fire in one of the apartments," police said in a media release.
The fire was contained in one unit of the apartment.
Orillia Fire Chief Chris Ferry told Barrie 360 that 25 people were evacuated from the 12-unit building and firefighters had to assist six individuals. The residents were displaced from their homes due to smoke damage and Ferry said they have not been allowed back in yet.
A 39-year-old man has been charged with arson (damage to property) and common nuisance (endanger life).
The accused was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries related to the fire and remains in police custody pending a bail hearing.
