ACCUSED ORILLIA ARSONIST CHARGED WITH BREACHING BAIL BY POSSESSING LIGHTER NEAR FIRE SITE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

ORILLIA (January 21) — A man police charged with arson for allegedly starting a devastating downtown fire here last week has been arrested again and now faces further related charges as a result of bail conditions.

On Tuesday, January 28, at 5:30 p.m. OPP were dispatched to an unwanted person at an address on Queen St E. Orillia — just four blocks south of where fire ripped through a historic corner building on its Mississaga main street early last Tuesday.

Once police got to Queen Street they were advised the male was no longer at the location.

Shortly after officers located the man and found a lighter in his possession.

After questioning the suspect, police confirmed that the male was out on conditions not to be in possession of any accelerant to start a fire.

As a result, Brandon Costa was charged with CC 145(5)(a) Failure to Comply with Release Order – other than to attend court X 2

The accused was held in custody, pending a bail hearing.

CENTURY OLD HISTORIC ORILLIA BUSINESS CORE BUILDING DESTROYED IN MORNING FIRE TODAY https://muskokatoday.com/2025/01/century-old-historic-orillia-business-core-building-destroyed-in-morning-fire-today/

‘SMALL FIRE LIT NEARBY BY A PERSON.’ POLICE SUSPECT ARSON IN ORILLIA THANKS TO VIDEO https://muskokatoday.com/2025/01/small-fire-lit-nearby-by-a-person-police-suspect-arson-in-orillia-thanks-to-video/

Police have charge Brandon Costa a second time after a fire last Tuesday in downtown Orillia. Photo City of Orillia

The charges stem from the blaze last Tuesday, Jan. 21, when fire ripped through a business on Peter Street South near Mississaga Street East.

Just before 7:30 a.m. emergency personnel responded to the major structure fire a block from the Opera House and just a couple of blocks up from Lake Couchiching.

Upon further investigation, the following day, January 22, at 9:55 p.m., officers from the Orillia OPP detachment located arrested and charged Costa with arson.

He was held for a bail hearing with the Court of Justice and released on conditions including not to possess any accelerant to start a fire, police said this afternoon.

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