St. Catharines Standard e-edition

Man charged with arson as store sheds destroyed by fire

KRIS DUBÉ KRIS DUBÉ IS A REPORTER FOR THE WELLAND TRIBUNE. REACH HIM VIA EMAIL: KRIS.DUBE@NIAGARADAILIES.COM

Multiple sheds at the Welland Rona store were destroyed by fire Monday morning, resulting in a 28-year-old man being charged with arson.

Shortly before 4 a.m., a Niagara Regional Police officer on patrol noticed a large fire on the west side of the store on Primeway Drive near Woodlawn Road.

As the officer approached the scene, a suspect was “observed in close proximity to the fire,” media relations officer Const. Barry Ravenek said Tuesday.

Welland Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Chief Burt Lamoureux said the sheds contained building materials, but he did not have specific information about what those materials were.

He said “it did appear someone was living in one of the sheds.”

Three sheds were destroyed and two others were “cooled down” with water to prevent fire from spreading, Lamoureux said.

He said damage is estimated at $10,500, including to the shed contents.

Ravenek said a police report indicated two sheds were destroyed and that damage is estimated at $5,000.

He said the report made no mention of one of the sheds having been lived in.

A suspect has been charged with arson causing damage to property. The man is to appear in court Oct. 28 in Welland.

The store manager said she was unable to comment on the incident.

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2022-09-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://stcatharinesstandard.pressreader.com/article/281513640029201

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