Police and fire officials in are looking into three fires that have all taken place within a matter of days.
All three are believed to have been deliberately set.
Grenville Green has lived in Espanola for 11 years and says the fact that two arsons happened right next door to him is disturbing.
"I think it's really sad. It's a bad thing for Espanola. I know that my neighbours have been quite disheartened. And both fires, they weren't here, they were at their cottage. And so it was a difficult thing for them and they're great people." said Green.
The first fire was sparked at the Espanola Recreation Complex just after 4:30 am on Monday. It was started in a garbage dumpster that was destroyed in the blaze.
A second one took place at a home on Queensway Avenue that had previously been damaged in an accidental fire. On Tuesday, just before 1 am, it was set on fire again.
An officer on patrol at the time spotted the fire and it was quickly extinguished.
The third happened steps away just before midnight on Tuesday at a new construction project.
Todd Zimmerman, Espanola’s police chief, says these incidents are concerning because of the damage and potential loss of life they could have caused.
"Arson is a crime where individuals can die as a result of the fire. The fire can spread. I mean, when you look at what happened out west, a fire can destroy a whole community. So, we take arson cases very seriously because the threat to the public, threat to property is extremely high." said Zimmerman.
"It's unusual for a city like this, or a town like this. Everybody pretty much knows everybody else, so I think it's very bad. And I hope it comes to some conclusion and a fruitful one at that." said Green.
Police say they believe all three arsons are connected and they likely involve the same suspect or suspects.
Residents are being asked to contact the police service with any information relating to any of the arsons.
