OPP assisting Espanola fire investigation Update

OPP News Release

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ESPANOLA – The Espanola Police Service along with the Ontario Provincial Police are continuing their investigation into details surrounding a suspicious fire that sent one man to hospital.

He has now been released from hospital recovering from non-life threatening injuries.

On Monday March 19 2012 just after 1:00 AM Espanola Police Service responded to a commercial building fire situated in a building complex on Tudhope Street in the Town of Espanola.

Police arrived on the scene to find the flames from the building quickly spreading to adjoining businesses.

The Espanola Volunteer Fire Department along with the assistance of the Baldwin Volunteer Fire Department attended the scene to extinguish the fire.

A 44 year old male was located near the scene with non-life threatening injuries and was taken to the Espanola Hospital for treatment.

The scene has been turned over to investigators from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall who are closely examining the scene and collecting evidence.

Members of The Ontario Technical Safety Standards Association are assisting along with officers of the Ontario Provincial Police Forensic Identification Services Unit.

It is unknown the estimated cost of damages to the building and surrounding businesses until the investigation is complete.

The area is still cordoned off as it is a public safety concern as the Fire Marshall determines the exact structural damage. The public is being kept away as a precaution should part of the building collapse.

Police are aware that this has caused a disruption to businesses in the immediate vicinity.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Northeast Region Crime Unit and the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) under the direction of Detective Inspector Colleen McCormick of CIB are assisting with the investigation at the request of the Espanola Police Service

Police are asking anyone that may have information in relation to this investigation to call police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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On Monday March 19 2012 just after 1:00 AM Espanola Police Service responded to a commercial building fire situated in a building complex on Tudhope Street in the Town of Espanola.

Police arrived on the scene to find the flames from the building on fire quickly spreading to adjoining businesses. The Espanola Volunteer Fire Department along with the assistance of the Baldwin Volunteer Fire Department attended the scene to extinguish the fire.

A 44 year old male was located near the scene with non life threatening injuries and was taken to the Espanola Hospital for treatment.

The circumstances surrounding the fire are suspicious. Representatives from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall are on scene as is the Ontario Provincial Police Forensic Identification Services Unit.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Northeast Region Crime Unit and the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) under the direction of Detective Inspector Colleen McCormick of CIB are assisting with the investigation at the request of the Espanola Police Service

Police are asking anyone that may have information in relation to this investigation to call police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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