ST. PAUL – The St. Paul Fire Department responded to two fires within 13 hours of each other, and both appear to be suspicious in nature.
On Sunday night, emergency crews responded to a structure fire at 5401-55 street located in the northern portion of St. Paul.
Jessica Berlinguette said she called 911 at 9:45 p.m., after her 10-year-old son saw a nearby mobile trailer on fire. “The neighbor's house is on fire,” Berlinguette recalled her son saying.
“Then everyone came out,” she said. Some of the neighbours in the area attempted to knock on the home’s windows and doors to see if anyone was inside the residence.
Upon arrival, the St. Paul Fire Department extinguished the fire with a “quick initial attack,” according to information provided on Monday. Fire Chief Trevor Kotowich confirmed that residents of the home were not present at the time of the fire.
A total of 22 firefighters responded to the call. No injuries were reported, and the fire is still under investigation.
In a statement to Lakeland This Week, St. Paul RCMP Sgt. Bobby Burgess said, “All I can say at this point is the fire appears suspicious in nature.”
Monday morning fire
The St. Paul Fire Department was then called to a fire on Township Road 581, near Range Road 83 in the County of St. Paul at approximately 10:35 a.m., on May 29.
Upon arrival, fire crews extinguished a fire that had consumed a detached garage, according to information from the fire department. Fire crews ensured that the fire did not spread to any nearby structures and a power company was called to deal with downed power lines.
This is the second fire incident to the property in the last nine days, and has been deemed intentional following initial investigations, according to information from Kotowich.
St. Paul RCMP is asking the public to contact them if they have any information related to any of the two incidents.
