North Bay fire crews had a busy morning attending to three fires all within an hour.
Jason Whiteley, Chief of North Bay Fire and Emergency Services, says crews were first called to an intentionally set fire near Burrow’s Garden and Country Store just before 5 am Wednesday morning. Whiteley says a wooden palette was set ablaze and fire crews quickly extinguished it.
Just as the first fire was put out, crews were called to another one at the old Gateway Professional Tools store on Cassells Street. Whiteley says there was brush that was set on fire and put near the building’s gas metre.
About 10 minutes later, a third fire was reported on 1128 O’Brien Street near Highway 17. Whiteley says a tenant in the building escaped the fire and is now in hospital with injuries related to the escape. He also confirms there is smoke damage to Passionate Kisses and Colonel Hoagie’s Diner.
Victim Services was also called to the scene to assist the tenant.
Despite the fires happening in short proximity to each other, Whiteley says there was no strain on resources.
“Fortunately, the first two fires we were able to contain quickly with one truck so we had the two other vehicles available,” he said.
Whiteley says the first two fires are “suspicious” as they were intentionally set, with the O’Brien Street incident still under investigation.
The North Bay Police Service tweeted they are investigating several “suspicious” early morning fires Wednesday morning.
