Mount Forest fires that caused over $1M in damages considered suspicious: OPP
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say multiple fires that occurred in Mount Forest over the weekend are now being considered suspicious.
The fires were set around 3 a.m. on Sunday, and in all instances, no injuries were reported, fire officials said.
Firefighters remain at the aftermath of a fire in Mount Forest that caused over $1 million in damages. (Matt MacIntyre/Submitted)
Chris Harrow, director of fire services for Wellington North Fire, said three separate fires happened at two different locations.
On Sunday, Wellington North Fire said around 60 firefighters from multiple stations were needed to knock down the fires, which caused estimated damages exceeding $1 million.
A fire consumes a structure in Mount Forest on June 4. (Minto Fire/Submitted)
According to Wellington Fire, firefighters responded to a structure fire on Sligo Road in Mount Forest around 2:48 a.m.
“Firefighters arrived on scene of a storage building structure fire containing cardboard product and other items,” Wellington North Fire said in a news release. “There were no occupants in the building at the time of the fire.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire officials have pegged the damage at over $1 million.
The fire has since been determined to have occurred at Wellington Produce Packaging.
The company issued the following statement on Monday to CTV News via email: "Wellington Produce Packaging would like to thank friends, family, neighbours, and community members, for all the support we have received over the past few days. Your care and concern have been greatly appreciated. We would also like to acknowledge the incredible work that was done to control the fire and contain it to not spread to neighbouring houses and other buildings and equipment on the WPP site. The response of eight area fire departments and several police officers was remarkable! The WPP team and the Hincks family are grateful for you and your support," a statement from the company reads.
A fire on Sligo Road in Mount Forest lights up the sky as crews battle the blaze. (Matt MacIntyre/Submitted)
Firefighters responded to two fires at a home on Cork Street around 3:18 a.m.
One fire involved a car sitting on the driveway near the house. The second fire involved a shed in the backyard of the home.
A spokesperson for OPP said in an email to CTV News they are considering these two fires at the home as the same incident.
The fires charred a shed in the home’s backyard and heavily damaged a car on the driveway.
“Firefighters were able to knock the fire down before it got into the house extensively. Everyone in the house got out safely, and there were no injuries to anyone involved,” Wellington North Fire said.
The remains of a vehicle after a fire on Sunday morning in Wellington North. (Matt McIntyre/Submitted)
Following the fire, a car could be seen sitting in the driveway with extensive damage to its front end.
In this instance, fire officials said the damage estimate is around $50,000.
Firefighters from both Wellington North stations, as well as neighbouring fire departments, including Minto, Mapleton, West Grey, Southgate and Shelburne attended the scenes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.