Accidents:1)(Updated) Cause determined for commercial plaza fire in Oro-Medonte; 2)Human remains found after house fire in Penetanguishene
1)(Updated) Cause determined for commercial plaza fire in Oro-Medonte
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, May 28, 2026
Firefighters respond to a rooftop fire at a commercial plaza on Highway 11 in Oro-Medonte north of Barrie
UPDATED:
Damage from a fire at a commercial plaza on Highway 11 near Line 7 in Oro-Medonte on Wednesday evening is pegged at $1 million.
In an email to Barrie 360 on Thursday, Fire Chief Roree Payment said the fire was caused by work being done on the plaza.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
Firefighters were still dousing hotspots hours after a blaze erupted at a commercial plaza on the south side of Highway 11, near Line 7.
Oro-Medonte Fire Chief Roree Payment told Barrie 360 crews were alerted around 6 p.m. Wednesday about smoke coming from the plaza, located north of Barrie.
Payment said crews determined there was a significant fire in the roof area
With help from Orillia and Severn Township fire services, he said they eventually gained control of the fire and kept it mostly contained to the roof area, though some of the businesses down below did experience water and some smoke damage.
Payment said the plaza is home to about eight businesses.
They include a Canada Post depot, a bait store, a mattress store, a flooring business, and more.
There were no injuries.
Payment said the damage total and the cause of the fire are undetermined.
2)Human remains found after house fire in Penetanguishene
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, May 27, 2026
Human remains were found during an Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM) investigation of a blaze that occurred at a residence in Penetanguishene.
Ontario Provincial Police say emergency services responded to a report of a structure fire at around 11 p.m. Saturday on Champlain Road.
The home sustained extensive damage.
During the on-scene investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal, police say human remains were located inside the home that have been determined to be those of an adult male.
At this time, there are no indications of foul play.
The identity of the deceased is still being determined.
The investigation by the Southern Georgian Bay OPP Major Crime Unit remains ongoing in coordination with the OFM and the Office of the Chief Coroner.