Updated May 21, 2026 @ 3:24pm
Barrie Police have charged a 59-year-old woman from the city following a suspicious early morning fire in the basement of a home on Essa Road between Burton Avenue and Innisfil Street.
Around 4 a.m. Thursday, emergency crews responded to a report of a structure fire.
Police say the two occupants escaped the residence unharmed.
"The basement sustained moderate damage. Fire officials subsequently advised police the fire appeared to have been intentionally set," police said in a news release.
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Police say an officer who had noticed a vehicle outside the address at the time of the fire then located the registered owner. When police went to a home in the area of Essa Road and Loggers Run, a woman answered the door and appeared to have significant burn injuries to her hands.
She was taken into custody less than an hour after the fire call to first responders. Following her release from the hospital, the woman was taken to police headquarters and held for a bail hearing.
The suspect has been charged with three arson-related offences, including two charges of disregard for human life and one charge of damage to property.
The Ontario Fire Marshal was alerted about the fire, police said, but is not attending.
