Port Hope Police are investigating a suspicious fire on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
At approximately 8:50 p.m. Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services were dispatched to 99 Phillips Road for alarms sounding.
It was quickly determined that there had been a small fire outside one of the apartments on the fifth floor.
“A fire in a hallway of an occupied multi level apartment building is extremely serious and poses a risk to those who reside in the adjacent units as the hallway is regularly the sole means of egress from your unit out of the building,” said Jason Williams, Director of Protective Services/Port Hope Fire Chief said,
“This is why fire alarm systems are so important in these types of buildings and are required by the Ontario Fire Code. In this instance the alarm activated as designed and provided the early detection of the fire to alert residents and summons the fire service to attend. In this case, the PHPS is investigating the matter as a potential arson, and PHFES are supporting the investigation. An intentionally set fire in the hallway of an apartment building concerns me as there are very serious risks associated with such an act that could impact many people who reside there.”