A 59-year-old woman is facing arson-related charges after a suspicious early morning fire at a home on Essa Road in Barrie.
Emergency crews were called just after 4 a.m. Thursday to a structure fire in the basement of a residence between Burton Avenue and Innisfil Street. Firefighters arrived with five trucks and extinguished the blaze within minutes.
Two people inside the home were able to evacuate safely, and no injuries were reported. However, the basement sustained an estimated $25,000 in damage. Officials noted that smoke alarms were working at the time.
Police say an officer at the scene observed a vehicle connected to the incident and later located the registered owner at a nearby address on Essa Road and Loggers Run. The woman answering the door allegedly had burn injuries on her hands and was taken into custody shortly after 4:45 a.m. She was transported to hospital for treatment before being returned to police headquarters.
She now faces multiple charges, including arson causing property damage and two counts of disregard for human life. The investigation is ongoing.