Police investigating after Erin fire deemed 'suspicious'
ERIN – Police are investigating after a Sideroad 10 fire in Erin on Sept. 15 was deemed suspicious.
A Sept. 18 press release from the Wellington County OPP states police are investigating with help from the agency's forensic officers and the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM).
A town statement about the blaze notes trucks and 32 volunteer firefighters from both the Hillsburgh and Erin fire stations were dispatched to a structure fire at 2am on Sept. 15.
"Upon arrival, the [single-family home] was fully involved, and fire crew initiated a defensive attack," the Erin statement from Erin Fire Chief Jim Sawkins notes.
"The house sustained severe damage and is a total write-off."
The fire was reported under control at 3:23am, and the last crew returned to the station in the afternoon.
Because the cause is deemed suspicious, the scene was turned over to police and the OFM.
OFM spokesperson Andre Thurairatnam wrote in an email to the Advertiser that the fire marshal's "on-scene portion of the investigation is now complete."
Thurairatnam added OFM investigators "will proceed with next steps in the investigation process” seeking to identify the origin, cause, and circumstance of the fire.
Police are asking anyone with information about the fire to call police at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.csgw.tips.
