Police suspect arson in garage fire that left man in critical condition
The Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating a garage fire that broke out early Monday on Windsor’s east side sending one man to hospital in critical condition.
A Windsor police spokesman said arson is suspected in the blaze at 1515 Arthur Rd.
Windsor Fire and Rescue spokesman John Lee said the suspicious fire damaged the home’s garage located at the back of the house and destroyed a Lincoln MKZ parked inside. An adjacent fence and the back of a neighbouring house at 1519 Arthur Rd., was damaged along with a shed.
Police confirmed they have one suspect in custody.
Lee said a second person of interest, who was airlifted to a London hospital, has burns to 35 per cent of his body. No other injuries were reported. Neighbour Craig St. Pierre, who was down the street from the fire, said he awoke to sirens around 2 a.m.
He headed outside to see what was happening.
“I heard two guys having a conversation,” St. Pierre said. “They were saying things like, ‘It just blew up.’ ”
He said one of the men was injured so he called out to his girlfriend to call 911 for an ambulance.
It was St. Pierre’s daughter’s house and shed that suffered some damage from the adjacent garage fire.
Police, firefighters and EMS workers responded to the scene shortly after 2 a.m.
Police remained there Monday morning while awaiting the Fire Marshal’s arrival.
Lee estimated the damage at $100,000.
The fire marshal was expected to wrap up his investigation by midafternoon Monday.