Suspect sought after arson suspected in historic Orillia fire

Police believe the downtown Orillia fire that destroyed an historic building and shut down the city’s downtown core was a result of arson.

Ontario Provincial Police believe the downtown Orillia fire that destroyed an historic building along Peter Street South and shut down the city’s downtown core Tuesday morning was a result of arson.

On Wednesday, police confirmed a suspect is being sought after an individual was captured on surveillance cameras between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. when the fire broke up.

“We do believe, at this time, that there was a small fire that was intentionally set by one person that then ended up spreading,” said Orillia OPP Const. Sophie Gwin.

“We’re still actually putting hot spots out. We have some hot spots in the centre of the building. Because of the roof collapse, they’re hard to reach,” said Orillia Fire Chief Chris Ferry.

Despite best efforts by firefighters, the building has been deemed a total loss - with damage estimated at $4-million.

“There isn’t much holding the exterior walls so the structural integrity of the building is not safe for us to be inside right now, said the chief who said crews were brought in to bring parts of the building down safely.

“When they said the salon is on fire I thought maybe a garbage can outside was on fire. I didn’t think it was this,” said Kendra Vanderwerf, who owned Three Birds Salon; where the fire is believed to have been set near the storefront Tuesday morning.

“I’m feeling more hopeful, than anything,” said Vanderwerf who has owned the downtown salon for about four years. “The amount of outreach we’ve gotten after this fire has been amazing,” she added.

“We’ve gotten an immense outpouring from other local salons helping us; they’ve donated to us. They’ve offered to donate tools.” Vanderwerf said a GoFundMe account which has nearly reached its goal to help the salon get financially back on its feet as the community does its part to help in their time of need.

Vanderwerf says the local drag community has offered to host charity drag shows with proceeds being donated to the salon.

“Our next drag show is February 15,” she said the charity show has nearly sold out and while insurance companies likely won’t cover the complete cost of damages to businesses affected, she said it’s looking like the community is going to make up the difference.

“The tragedy just compounds on itself. But the community is incredibly tight knit,” said Vanderwerf who vows to continue serving the community. “We’re looking to do charity work, in the coming weeks to raise money for the rest of the people displaced by this. We’re going to be rebuilding. We’re going to be looking for a new unit. We want to still be in the downtown. The downtown community means a lot to us. Even the inter-building community meant a lot to us. That’s something we’re really going to be missing.”

Her stylist and friend Bobbi Jean Berke said she’s thankful for the support from the community she has called home for close to a decade.

“It’s such a loss: the building, the community. It was such a safe space. Just it was a very safe space that a lot of people enjoying coming to,” said Berke.

The team at Three Birds Studio remains thankful for the support from neighbours and customers who have reached out to ensure they’re cared for during their time of need. “It’s times like this that we really pull together. There were studios and independent businesses and artists upstairs as well so it was a huge loss to the arts community, the downtown community. We’re going to be in mourning for a while.”

Residents of neighbouring apartments were forced from their units. The building was home to several small businesses including art studios, boutiques, shops and Dr. Comics owned by Carmine De Santo.

“You know, you collect for the last 40, 50 years of your life; items and gems and holy grails and some rare pieces all gone in one day,” he said. De Santo’s life’s work was burned to the ground. Thousands priceless piece of history, including memorabilia and one-of-kind comics and toys were lost inside the store and basement of Dr. Comics.

“We really loved our spot in downtown Orillia. We love our building so much and it’s going to be missed big time. It’s really hard,” he said. “The community has been very supportive. It was our home. We always bragged about downtown Orillia. We’d tell the outsiders at shows we’d run to come and see the great places to eat, the great boutiques and art shops.”

“It still hasn’t hit me but it’s a hard feel and I’m devastated. Forty years of collecting is gone, losing your baby,” he said. “It was a piece of history I would tell people ‘Welcome to our time machine.” We had a lot of great collectibles, comics, toys, original art, pictures, you name it we had it in the shop. It’s all gone, nothing could be saved. It’s going to be missed big time.”

The downtown Orillia BIA planning events and campaigns of support with local business leaders and the city.

“I know having personal relationships with a lot of the business owners. You feel what they feel right and some of them have put videos on social media - just heartbreaking stuff. So we feel everything they feel absolutely and we’re gonna do whatever we can to support them,” said Devon Johnston, Executive Director of the Downtown Orillia Business Improvement Area.

“We’re going to be coming up with a very specific plan about how we can support the business; whether that’s financially or volunteer help to directly help our business friends who have lost what they’ve lost and do it with a sense of urgency because they need help now.”

The Downtown Orillia BIA is asking anyone who would like to help the businesses to email the BIA [e-mail] to compile a list of community members willing to offer assistance and provide those affected with immediate connections.

“I have no doubt the city of Orillia and this community will come together to support the people who have lost so much,” said Johnston.

While the community continues to rally around those impacted by the fire police are asking anyone with information in the criminal investigation to come forward.