Two teenagers have been charged in connection with a devastating fire that destroyed a historic waterfront building in Deseronto, Ontario earlier this month.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), emergency crews responded to the blaze at the former Canada Optical plant on Main Street around 6 p.m. on Monday. When firefighters arrived, the building was already fully engulfed in flames.
The accused—a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old—are facing multiple charges, including arson, breaking and entering, and mischief.
The building, a long-standing landmark in the town, was once home to the Canada Optical manufacturing facility and, more recently, had been used as a flea market and storage space. Town officials have confirmed that it is now a total loss.
“Anytime you lose a heritage building, it’s painful,” said Bryan Brooks, Deseronto’s town manager. “But to lose it in this way, through fire, adds a deeper layer of grief. Many people in this town either worked there or have strong memories connected to the building.”
A statement from the town indicated that the fire is believed to have originated in the western section of the structure before rapidly spreading. Due to the severity of the blaze, crews were forced to demolish the building during the firefighting effort.
The investigation is ongoing.
