Several suspicious fires in Sudbury are being investigated

Officials in Greater Sudbury say five recent fires in the city are being deemed as suspicious, including three that resulted in significant damage, as well as two minor fires. (Molly Frommer/CTV News)

Sudbury — Greater Sudbury Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Oshell says five recent fires in the city are being deemed as suspicious, including three that resulted in significant damage, as well as two minor fires.

“The number of fires that were seeing in such a short period of time is what is heightening our awareness around that particular type of fire,” said Oshell.

He said there are a number of factors as to why fires are deemed suspicious.

“Things like the extent of the fire, the amount of fire that we see upon arrival, things that may jump out at us as being not ordinary for what we would expect," Oshell said. "Obviously there are other factors involved, but we leave those up the fire marshal or police services during their investigation.”

Throughout the day Wednesday, the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and Greater Sudbury Police were still on scene investigating the structure fire on Menard Street in the Greater Sudbury community of Blezzard Valley.

Police said they continue to look into all three major fires.

“The fire on Beech Street, Elizabeth Street and Menard Street all remain under investigation,” said Kaitlyn Dunn, of the Greater Sudbury Police Service.

"Right now, they are deemed suspicious fires, however we do not believe that there is any information to believe that they are related.”

Police are asking anyone with residential surveillance footage of the Menard Street fire to contact police.