MANITOULIN—Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Sergeant Carolle Dionne, media relations and community services coordinator for the OPP North East Region confirmed on Friday (August 8) afternoon that the OPP are currently investigating a number of fires in the town of Little Current, the most recent having occurred on Thursday evening in which two buildings, the old curling club and the former Community of Christ church (now a fitness centre and apartment building, were destroyed.
Sgt. Dionne also confirmed that the OPP currently do not have anyone in custody in relation to the fires.
The OPP are expected to release further details on Monday, August 11 and have provided preventative tips for the public to reduce malicious fires. The OPP advises that home and business owners keep leaves, firewood, overgrown brush and shrubbery and other combustibles away from buildings.
Keep doors and windows locked in garages, cars and unoccupied buildings.
Further, the OPP advises that abandoned buildings be boarded up. “Do not use double cylinder deadbolt locks without keeping a key nearby,” cautions Sgt. Dionne, “or bars without quick release mechanisms, or other security devices that could trap a person in a building involved in a fire.”
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Store all flammable liquids such as paints, gasoline, thinners or lawnmowers in an approved storage location such as locked metal cabinets, locked storage units and locked garages (preventing access to children). Keep flammable liquids away from heat sources such as furnaces and any type of heaters.
Particularly important is that the public report suspicious activity near houses, garages, alleyways or other buildings to police promptly, notes Sergeant Dionne, and “be a good neighbour by keeping a watchful eye in your community.”
