LITTLE CURRENT—On Wednesday, July 23 at 11:20 pm, the Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was notified of a fire on Blake Street in Little Current.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a resident happened to look out his window and see flames coming from his neighbour’s garage. He went quickly to his neighbour’s and notified the owner of the home. They managed to spray the fire with a fire extinguisher and then used a garden hose to extinguish the fire completely. There was very little damage and no injuries. The Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) Fire Department was called and the fire was deemed suspicious in nature.
Manitoulin OPP initiated an investigation and called on the Ontario Fire Marshal to assist as well as the OPP Forensic Identification Unit. Police canvassed residents of the neighbouring streets around Blake Street last week in an attempt at obtaining additional information on the suspicious fire.
James Allen, Fire Marshal investigator, told The Expositor that the fire began in the southeast corner of the garage in a “wood shop” and that a window into the garage appeared to have been pried open. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation and samples have been sent for analysis at a forensics lab. This could take three to six weeks before results are found, Mr. Allen said.
This is not Mr. Allen’s first visit to Manitoulin recently as he also visited the scene of another Blake Street fire just weeks before.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Webb, detachment commander with the Manitoulin OPP, said the latest in a string of Little Current fires (three in less than two months) is being treated “as a single event at this time.”
Police are seeking the public’s assistance and asking anyone with information about this fire to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
