Collingwood OPP have confirmed one person was found dead in an apartment fire last night.
The fire call came in at about 1:15 a.m. on Sept. 20 for a structure fire at 535 Tenth Street, which is an apartment building.
Police along with the fire department and Simcoe County EMS responded to the fire at the four-storey building.
The identity of the person who was found dead in the building has not been released.
All other occupants have been safely accounted for, according to OPP.
Collingwood Fire Chief Ross Parr reported all the residents of the apartment building are displaced until further notice. He estimated there were about 52 residents impacted.
He said anyone who didn't have a place to go were brought to Central Park Arena where they received assistance from the Red Cross, including help finding accommodation for up to three nights and some financial support. Parr estimated about 15 to 20 residents went to the arena for help.
Chief Parr said the fire was contained mostly to a single unit, which was "fully destroyed."
The building has been posted with a "do not occupy" notice by the town's building department pending an inspection from an engineer to deem whether it is safe for residents to return.
Parr said the fire department is not treating the fire as suspicious, however there are multiple inspectors from the Ontario Fire Marshal's office investigating the fire and death.
Collingwood OPP is also investigating the death.
The OPP would only say it was a joint investigation with the Ontario Fire Marshal, but would not specify why it was investigating the death.
Officers will continue to hold the scene for the ongoing investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call Collingwood OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
