CTV News has obtained surveillance video that appears to show a fire being set outside a downtown Orillia building moments before it went up in flames.
In the video, a man is seen walking into the doorway of Three Birds Salon located at 7 Peter Street South where the fire destroyed the historic building and reduced it to rubble.
Police said on January 22 a small fire appeared to have been intentionally set by one person that ended up spreading.
By 7:20 a.m., fire crews were called to the area which had become fully engulfed. Despite efforts by firefighters the building has been deemed a total loss, with its structural integrity compromised, according to fire officials.
Within a day of the fire, provincial police identified, arrested and charged Brandon Costa, 35, of Brampton, with arson with disregard for human life.
Within hours of his arrest Costa was granted bail, only to be arrested again five days later for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. He was released to a family member who pledged $1,500 to get him out of custody and serve as his surety. Costa was released on the condition not have any lighters, matches, gasoline or accelerants on him.
Police said they received a call of an unwanted person along Queen Street East in Orillia Tuesday night.
They then located a man who they say was Costa. He was allegedly found with a lighter and taken to jail where Friday morning he was supposed appear in a virtual courtroom in Barrie, but wasn’t brought to the jail’s video suite at Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.
The fire shut down the city’s downtown core as crews worked around the clock for four straight days to put out hotspots and secure the area.
Demolition crews were still taking apart what’s left of the building Friday afternoon. The damage caused is estimated at $4 million.
The building at 7 Peter Street South was home to about a dozen businesses that included shops, a salon, comic book store and studios with deep roots in the downtown community.
Owners of the businesses and their employees are now forced to start over or move on. The fire displaced those living and working in neighbouring apartments and units as well.
Separate court documents reveal Costa has also been charged with allegedly stealing mail three days prior to the fire.
He is scheduled to return to a virtual Barrie courtroom Monday. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.
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