Police in Windsor are investigating a suspected arson that devastated a home in the Devonshire area Sunday night, leaving one dog dead, a man hurt, and two pets still missing.
According to the Windsor Police Service, emergency crews responded around 9:30 p.m. to a fire on Byng Road near Walker Road and E.C. Row Expressway. Firefighters arrived to find a one-and-a-half-storey house engulfed in flames that had spread to the upper level.
A man escaped from the second floor by jumping through a window onto the garage roof, while one cat also managed to get out. Crews located a dog inside the residence and attempted resuscitation using an oxygen mask designed for animals, but the pet did not survive. Another cat and dog have not yet been found.
Officials say the blaze appears suspicious because it started outside the structure before moving into the attic’s knee walls. Damage is estimated between $500,000 and $600,000, and the house is considered a total loss.
The police arson unit is leading the investigation and is asking residents on Byng Road between Lappan Avenue and Calderwood Avenue to check security or dash camera footage recorded between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 for anything unusual.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the arson unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 4330, or provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.