A resident of a homeless encampment near downtown Barrie was airlifted to the burn centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto following a serious fire this morning.
An area resident believes there may have been an explosion in a tent caused by a heat source.
“There was a fire in an encampment-type area and one person was injured due to the fire and was transported to the hospital,” said Barrie deputy fire chief Carrie Clark. “The fire marshal’s office is en route to assist with the investigation.”
Clark said the origin and cause of the fire have yet to be determined.
The province's Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) becomes involved when a fire results in a serious injury.
An area between the residential neighbourhood and Anne Street businesses, bordered by a creek and a stand of trees, was cordoned off by police tape Tuesday morning. An officer was protecting the scene, waiting for the arrival of the OFM investigator.
The neighbour, a woman who identified herself as Lucy, said the empty lot has been used throughout the winter and last summer by at least one person living in a tent. She said they have been quiet and haven't disrupted the neighbourhood.
“My feet are frozen and I’ve only been out here for about half an hour,” Lucy said as she cleared snow from her vehicle Tuesday morning. “I can’t believe that they actually live in this cold. It’s been pretty cold in the past two weeks.”
Barrie police had earlier said emergency crews responded to the area of 79 Anne St. S., shortly before 9 a.m.
