Yesterday’s major fire at Killarney Mountain Lodge Resort is suspicious the Noelville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police is now saying.
The fire was discovered at around 3 a.m. by a staff member and the fire department was notified and arrived promptly, but the building, known as the Covered Portage, was destroyed by the flames, the resort said through the firm C Me Communications.
There were no injuries reported.
Buildings in close proximity of the blaze were not affected and management is assuring future guests that the resort is open for business. In the news release, the general manager, Kelly McAree, said an OPP investigation team is currently interviewing all staff and contractors on the site.
The lodge is undergoing an $18-million expansion and the new building, consisting of 16 rooms, was about to open for guest bookings on June 23.
Damage estimates from the fire are in the range of $3 million to $4 million.
In a news release, the OPP said the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM) was called by the Killarney Volunteer Fire Department. An on-site investigation was launched immediately.
Information from the Fire Marshal Investigator has led the Ontario Provincial Police Crime Unit to enter into a criminal investigation and will be working with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office.
The OPP is appealing to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity or has any information about this fire to contact the Ontario Provincial Police Criminal Investigation Branch at 1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), Text 274637 or online here, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
As this is an on-going investigation the OPP said it will not be releasing any further details about this investigation.
