Firefighters were on scene behind the building on Colborne Street for 4.5 hours. Officials say Orillia OPP and Ontario Fire Marshal are investigating the fire.
Smoke could be seen rising in the night sky across much of Orillia as large bales of cardboard stored behind a downtown building burst into flames Saturday evening.
Orillia firefighters, along with firefighters from Rama and Ramara Township, battled the “large exterior fire” behind the former Packet & Times building at 31 Colborne St. E. last night.
The fire broke out around 11 p.m. and caused Peter Street between Colborne Street and Elgin Street to be closed for several hours.
“When crews arrived, they found approximately 40 large bales of burning cardboard,” said Chris Ferry, Orillia’s deputy fire chief.
“We had to call in an excavator and loader from Orillia Public Works to pull apart the cardboard bales and completely extinguish them,” he explained of the stubborn fire.
During the fire, all residents were asked to stay in the buildings and keep windows and doors closed due to the foul smell and smoke.
Ferry said 16 firefighters were on scene for about four and a half hours battling the fire.
“The fire is being treated as suspicious,” said Ferry, who said the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office has been notified. He said the Orillia OPP is also investigating the incident.
Ferry said it was not known who owned the building or what, if any, businesses operated there.
