A fire that burned an exterior shed and damaged the outside walls of a Notre Dame Avenue convenience store on Nov. 1 is being treated as a suspected case of arson and Greater Sudbury Police is seeking a person of interest they believe might be linked to the blaze.
At around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Greater Sudbury Fire Services contacted Greater Sudbury Police about a structure fire on Notre Dame Avenue. The structure in question is Lagace’s Confectionary, 621 Notre Dame Ave.
“Officers were originally dispatched to assist with traffic control in the area, however, through the investigation it was determined to be a suspected arson,” police said in a news release today.
Greater Sudbury Fire Services said the structure that burned was an exterior shed close to the main building. While the shed was destroyed in the fire, damage to the building exterior was minimal, fire services told Sudbury.com, with minor smoke and water damage inside the building. The owners were displaced as the electricity to the building had to be isolated and shut off.
Damage is estimated at $150,000, fire services said.
Police said the initial investigation revealed an individual (pictured above in a police handout) was seen behind the building just prior to the fire.
“The fire caused substantial damage to the building, displacing several individuals who reside above the storefront location,” GSPS said.
As the incident is being investigated as arson, anyone with information as to the identity and/or whereabouts of the person of interest in the investigation is asked to contact police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477.