An arrest has been made in connection with a fire that destroyed a historic feed mill in Alliston.
A 23-year-old Tottenham man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with arson and mischief endangering life.
The arrest comes more than a year after flames reduced the Feed Service Mill to ashes. Flames were so intense on Aug. 19, 2016 that people living in two neighbouring apartments were evacuated as a precaution.
“It presented a life threatening situation at the time because all of the residences in the neighbourhood had to be evacuated,” says OPP Const. Harry Lawrenson.
“Over 21 years had gone up in smoke overnight,” says former owner Peter Dockerty. “We lost everything that way; our employees and everything it was pretty devastating.”
For Dockerty, there wasn’t much left for him to rebuild with. He says it would have cost $9 million to erect a new mill.
Instead, he sold what remained of the business, salvaged what he could and started fresh. He now runs The Mill Market, which sells local food products.
As for the accused, he is set to appear before a court at a future date to answer to the charges.
“I'm sure they will have to live with what they did for the rest of their lives, same as we will have to live with his consequences for the rest of our lives because it’s changed us forever,” Dockerty says.
