A 57-year-old Oshawa man has been charged with arson after a fire was deliberately set inside a residential triplex over the weekend. Emergency crews responded to the area of Ortona Avenue and Bloor Street East around 3:40 p.m. on May 9 for reports of a fire inside the multi-unit home.
Police say a tenant in the building intentionally started the fire. The suspect suffered minor injuries and was taken into custody before being transported to the hospital.
All other occupants of the triplex were safely evacuated, and no additional injuries were reported. Officers arrived to assist Oshawa Fire Services as firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control.
On Monday, investigators working alongside the Office of the Fire Marshal executed a search warrant at the residence to collect evidence related to the incident.
Phil John Layng, 57, of Oshawa, has been charged with arson — disregard for human life. He was held for a bail hearing.