(TOWNSHIP OF CENTRE WELLINGTON, ON) – On April 25, 2020 at approximately 2:35 a.m. the Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded along with Centre Wellington Fire to a report of a structure fire at the Highland Pines Campground located on the Fifth Line in Centre Wellington Township. A witness reported hearing explosions and seeing large flames coming from the campground.
Crews extinguished the fire and determined that the property damage consisted of a shed, excavator, loader, dump truck and bulldozer, totaling approximately $150,000 in damages.
The Office of the Fire Marshal was contacted and attended the scene.
No one was physically injured as a result of the fire.
The Wellington County OPP Crime Unit along with uniform officers and the OPP Forensic Identification Services conducted a thorough investigation and as a result Michael KENNEDY, 42-years-old of Niagara Falls has been charged with Arson, Trespassing at Night, Fail to Comply with Conditions of an Undertaking and Fail to Comply with Probation Order contrary to the Criminal Code.
The accused was held for a bail hearing.
The accused is a former employee of the business.