An arrest has been made in connection with a fire at a municipally-owned apartment building in Chatham.
Chatham-Kent firefighters responded to 99 McNaughton Ave. W. shortly after 4 p.m. on January 22, after the fire broke out within one of the apartment units on the building’s second floor.
The building was safely evacuated, and several tenants were offered temporary shelter through the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Emmanuel Baptist Church. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
Following an investigation conducted by the Chatham-Kent Police Service, in partnership with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue, the cause of the fire was determined to be arson and a suspect was arrested on January 23.
A 72-year-old man of unknown residence is now charged with arson with disregard for human life. He was held in custody for a bail hearing.
While the fire was contained to one unit, additional units sustained smoke and water damage. The total cost of the damage is estimated at $250,000.
An investigation remains ongoing.
The apartment complex is the same building that sustained significant damage during a fire in August 2024, leaving close to 100 residents displaced.