Resident charged with arson in Orillia apartment complex fire

A resident at an Orillia apartment building has been charged with arson.

Twenty people spent the night at hotel after a fire broke out at their apartment complex at 80 King Street around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Orillia's Fire Chief Chris Ferry says when firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke billowing from a unit on the first floor.

Provincial police attended the scene and charged a 39-year-old Orillia man with arson – damaging property, as well as a charge of common nuisance – endangering life.

About six people had to be evacuated by firefighters, while the rest of the building's tenants escaped the smoke-filled building on their own.

The fire was contained to a unit on the first floor, which suffered the heaviest damage.

However due to the heavy smoke in the building, all of the residents have been displaced for the time being.

"Red Cross came and helped all of the residents find hotels for the night," said Ferry.

The accused was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries related to the fire and remains in police custody pending a bail hearing.

There is no estimate of the extent of the damage, and Ferry says that the Ontario Fire Marshal was notified.