March 22, 2023

‘SUSPICIOUS’ FIRE GUTS BOAT RENTAL BUSINESS AT MUSKOKA WHARF EARLY THIS MORNING

GRAVENHURST — Police are sitting watch on a burned-out building at the west end of the Muskoka Wharf today, awaiting the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office after a “suspicious” early morning blaze gutted the summer boat rental business.

Muskoka Boat Rentals, which has been renting pontoon boats the past few years on the shore of Muskoka Lake, was destroyed inside, but otherwise left standing next to the Muskoka Discovery Centre.

The Gravenhurst Fire Department received the 911 call at 3:59 a.m., and responded with more than two dozen firefighters and four trucks including their aerial ladder used to reach flames coming out the second storey.

Fire Chief Jared Cayley said on Twitter this morning: “Crews have extinguished the fire. No injuries reported and fire damage was contained to the building.

“Damage is estimated at $750,000 and the cause is believed to be suspicious. The Ontario Fire Marshal Fire Investigations Unit has been contacted.”

**Gravernhurst firefighters were called out at 3:59 a.m., with their aerial ladder, Tuesday to battle the $750,000 blaze. Photo Denise Cooper Special to MuskokaTODAY.com**

**The front of the Muskoka Boat Rentals business shows the gutted interior and charred remains this afternoon at the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst.**

Later this afternoon, when asked, he told MuskokaTODAY.com what he could say at this point is that “it was not occupied by any people” at the time of the fire.

And that there was no one living there.

“I did not enter the building, but viewing from outside I did not see any boats.”

Cayley said the Town of Gravenhurst does not own the building, but he wasn’t sure just now who the owner was.

Asked where the fire started — upstairs, downstairs — the chief said it is “under investigation.”

What made him tweet that the fire was “suspicious?”

“Evidence found by our crews, that I cannot speak to due to the investigation,” he responded by email, adding the OPP is leading the investigation and the OFMEM will be assisting.

“They should be in town tomorrow (Thursday).”

No injuries were reported to anyone including firefighters.