Two charged with arson in Burton Avenue fire in Sudbury

Two people have been charged with arson in connection with a fire at a residential building on Burton Avenue overnight Monday in Sudbury.

Greater Sudbury Police said Tuesday the investigation began when witnesses at the scene told them they believed the fire had been deliberately set.

Several residents of the building, who did not want to be named, told Dan Bertrand of CTV News that they believed drugs may have been involved in the incident.

One resident, Amanda Goudreau, told CTV News that she believes the fire was deliberately set in anger by another resident.

“I don’t have anything on me,” Goudreau said.

“No … nothing… my home is a crime scene.”

A fire ripped through an apartment complex on Burton Avenue in Greater Sudbury, Ont., in the early morning hours on August 5, 2024. (Supplied/Amanda Goudreau)

In a news release Tuesday afternoon, police said witnesses also told them the fire was set deliberately.

“While speaking with individuals on scene, it was determined that the fire was in fact an arson,” Sudbury police said.

“Based on information gathered at the scene and video surveillance footage, officers identified the two individuals believed to be responsible.”

Two suspects – a 61-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman – have been charged with arson with disregard for human life and arson with damage to property.

“Both individuals attended weekend and statutory holiday court on Aug. 5 … to answer to the charges,” police said.

• Download our app to get local alerts on your device
• Get the latest local updates right to your inbox

Police arrived at the fire just after 3:45 a.m. on Aug. 5 after being alerted to a possible arson.

No one was injured, but many residents were temporarily displaced due to smoke damage. Officials said Monday that the building is not structurally comprised. Eleven people required temporary accommodation as a result of the fire.

The city-owned Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation operates the three-storey property that has 20 units on Burton Avenue located between the Flour Mill and Frood Road.

--With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalist Dan Bertand