Update
A woman has been charged with arson following a fire Friday morning at a duplex on Barrie Road.
When emergency crews responded to the scene, they were told the fire had been started deliberately, Orillia OPP said in a news release.
At 1:27 p.m., police made an arrest at an address on West Street North.
Amber Dawn Johnston, 28, of no fixed address, has been charged with arson (disregard for human life) and failure to comply with a probation order. She was held for a bail hearing.
Original story
The Orillia OPP are investigating a suspicious fire that happened early this morning.
At approximately 7 a.m. on Friday morning, the Orillia Fire Department received a call reporting a structure fire on Barrie Road. Upon arrival, firefighters found that the occupants had already managed to suppress most of the flames and the fire was confined to the front vestibule area of the duplex.
“The residents had knocked the fire down, and we just finished extinguishing it,” said Orillia Fire Chief Chris Ferry. “It was a small fire inside, and they’ll be able to stay in the residence.”
Ferry confirms the cause of the fire is considered suspicious and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have taken over the investigation, classifying it as an arson case.
Acting Sgt. Gilles Doiron of the Orillia OPP Community Mobilization Unit says more information will be provided as it becomes available.
Earlier this morning, the Orillia OPP Central Region posted on X, advising the public to avoid the area of Barrie Road between Dunedin Street and Wyandotte Street due to the ongoing investigation.
