Man sought in massive Chatham fire known to frequent London

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A woman has been charged with arson in a fire that displaced 99 residents living in a municipal housing complex and police are also seeking a man known to frequent London.

Erin Ashley Ott, 30, of Chatham is charged with arson-disregard for human life in a fire at an affordable housing building at 99 McNaughton Ave. W. in Chatham on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Police also said Leonard Greason, 48, of Chatham is wanted for arson-disregard for human life in the fire.

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Greason is known to frequent London, police said.

Anyone who sees him is advised to call 911 or 519-352-1234 and not approach him, police said.

Emergency crews responded to the fire at about 6 a.m.

Firefighters helped residents to leave the building as flames shot through the roof. Some residents were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but none were taken to hospital, Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue said.

In the aftermath of the fire, displaced residents moved in with family or friends or into hotel rooms arranged by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

The municipality said Friday it is opening an emergency evacuation centre at a former elementary school in Chatham because the fire-damaged building is unsafe and will take months to repair. Residents have begun moving from hotels to the centre, the municipality said.

Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue, the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and the police criminal investigation branch have been investigating the cause of the fire, police said Friday.

Fire Chief Chris Case said a fire alarm notification was received followed by several 911 calls to police/fire dispatch.

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“When (firefighters) arrived on scene they found quite a developed fire breaking through the roof,” Case said in an interview Monday.

Within 30 minutes a dozen trucks were on scene and more than 40 firefighters were fighting the blaze that closed a section of McNaughton Avenue for several hours Sunday, he said.

Ott was arraigned on the arson charge during a brief court appearance in a Chatham court via audio over the noon hour on Friday.

An order was also imposed by the court for Ott not to communicate with four people.

She was remanded in custody and is slated to return to court on Sept. 5.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Det.-Constable Mark VanderGriendt at 519-436-6600 Ext. 80207 or  markv@chatham-kent.ca.

Information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, police said.

Some displaced residents who recently spoke with the Chatham Daily News said they are worried about housing in the long-term after losing their affordable housing units.

Police said anyone wishing to donate to the individuals displaced by this incident is encouraged to check the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s website and social media platforms for drop-off locations and updated information. Details can be found at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/99-mcnaughton

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