Youth charged after fire kills 3 dogs in Barrhaven home
A basement fire in a Muirfield Gardens home resulted in serious arson charges against a minor.
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A youth is facing serious charges after a basement fire killed three dogs in a Barrhaven home Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters responded to Muirfield Gardens, a circle of homes just off Cedarhill Drive in Nepean, just before 3:22 p.m. When crews arrived, flames were visible in the basement and smoke was coming from the single-family home. A second team was dispatched within minutes. Firefighters did not find any people inside, but one person was treated for minor smoke inhalation. The blaze was under control by 4:19 p.m.
The youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, faces multiple charges: arson disregarding human life, arson causing property damage, possession of incendiary material for arson, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm (two counts), and killing or injuring animals (three counts) plus causing unnecessary suffering to animals (three counts).
The youth appeared in court Wednesday. Ottawa police are investigating alongside the Ottawa Fire Services Investigator and the Office of the Fire Marshal. Anyone with information can contact police at 613-236-1222, extension 2202, or arson@ottawapolice.ca.
The charges reflect the severity of what fire investigators found — a deliberately set fire in a family home.