Police believe the trio of fires reported in North Bay this morning is suspicious and have started an investigation.
Between 4:30 and 5 a.m. today North Bay Police accompanied members of the North Bay Fire and Emergency Service to three building fires.
One occurred in the 1100-block of O’Brien Street, while the other two occurred at the intersection of Cassells Avenue and 3rd Avenue West. Fire crews at the scene were able to control and extinguish the fires.
See: Early morning fire along the bypass; one person injured
Police are investigating the cause of the fires as well as whether they are related to one another. There is no threat to public safety at this time according to a news release.
North Bay Fire Chief Jason Whiteley says the string of fires is highly unusual.
"Right now we are treating all three fires as suspicious, especially the O'Brien fire,"
One elderly man present at the fire at 1128 O'Brien Street was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Smoke damage has been reported in the other two businesses on the property including Colonel Hoagies Diner and Passionate Kisses.
Of the three fires called in, the first was at 4:30 a.m. when some wooden pallets were set on fire at Burrows Country Store and Garden Centre on Third Ave., the second at 5:02 a.m., at the Gateway Tools building, 790 Cassells, near a gas meter, and then 5:14 a.m. at Colonel Hoagies.
Whiteley says the damage was kept outside the Gateway Tools building but believes it was started in some brush which was leaned against the gas meter of that building which he stated was "a real danger."
Hoagie's Diner is closed until further notice.
Investigators from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office have been called in to assist.
Officers urge anyone who may have security camera video, including dash cam video in the areas of O’Brien Street, Cassells Avenue, and 3rd Avenue West at the time of the incidents to contact them.
