A house fire in Kitchener is under investigation and considered suspicious, according to Waterloo Regional Police. Emergency crews responded to the blaze around 6 a.m. at a home on Major Street, where the fire was contained to a rear addition but caused approximately $500,000 in damage.
No injuries were reported, though firefighters searched the property thoroughly after concerns someone may have been inside. Multiple residents reportedly live in the home, and police were seen interviewing them along with the property owner. The Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office is now involved in the investigation, and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
Update – Police are searching for Eli Wood, a 25-year-old resident of the rear unit of a home that was recently damaged by fire. Investigators confirmed Wednesday that Wood is missing and said the circumstances appear suspicious, describing the case as a targeted incident.
Wood is about 4’10” tall, weighs between 85 and 95 pounds, and has green eyes, white hair, and partial white eyebrows and eyelashes. They also have a flower and seahorse tattoo on their left forearm and a rainbow tattoo on their upper right arm.
According to WRPS Inspector Kyle Lambert, there is no evidence linking Wood to the fire, but police are concerned for their wellbeing.