THUNDER BAY – No one was hurt, but a suspicious fire that swept through Barb’s Laundromat on N. Cumberland Street early Sunday morning caused significant smoke and fire damage to the north-side business.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, in a release issued on Sunday morning, said they arrived at the business to find smoke and fire visible in the interior front of the store, located in a strip mall in the 200 block of the street.
An attack commenced immediately, which knocked the fire down and prevented it from advancing further into the business store front and to the coffee and doughnut shop located next door.
“Heavy smoke conditions persisted until crews were able to clear the smoke using positive pressure fans. The building interior was also searched for occupants. However, as was expected, since the stores were not open for business at this time, no persons were found to be inside the building at the time of the fire,” said Platoon Chief John Kaplanis in the release.
Police remain on scene on Sunday morning, after a preliminary investigation indicated the fire was suspicious in nature. No one was inside at the time of the fire, which broke out just after midnight.
Five pumpers, an aerial ladder and a fire command vehicle responded to the fire.
