Investigators are probing a residential fire in downtown Windsor that caused an estimated $100,000 in damage and has been deemed suspicious.
Fire on Windsor Avenue
Fire crews responded to the blaze at a two-storey single-family home in the 1100 block of Windsor Avenue at around 8 p.m. on Friday, according to officials from Windsor Fire and Rescue Services and the Windsor Police Service.
At one point, 24 firefighters were on scene and quickly knocked down the fire. In a social media post shortly before 9 p.m. on Friday, Chief Fire Prevention Officer John Smith said the fire was under control and contained to the basement of the home.
Essex-Windsor EMS and Windsor police attended the scene to assist. No injuries were reported, but three people and two dogs were displaced.
Suspicious Blaze Under Investigation
In an update on social media Saturday, fire officials said the blaze is considered suspicious following an investigation that was expected to wrap up at around 12 p.m. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the residence.
Investigators are looking for clues into how the fire started. Anyone with surveillance or dashcam footage that may have captured activity around the time of the incident is asked to contact the Windsor Police Service arson unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 4330. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Windsor and Essex County Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at catchcrooks.com.
Separate Fire Displaces Four on Curry Avenue
In a separate incident on Thursday, four people were displaced after a fire destroyed a duplex on the city's west end. Firefighters were called to the 400 block of Curry Avenue at around 11:30 p.m., where crews battled a blaze that caused extensive structural damage to the home. The cause has been listed as undetermined, with damage estimated at approximately $500,000. Windsor Police Service arson investigators were called in to investigate that incident as well.
