A triplex on Hoover Crescent has been destroyed by an overnight fire that officials say does not appear suspicious.
"When firefighters arrived on scene, they found fire in an exterior wall," said Steve Miller, a deputy fire chief with the Orillia Fire Department.
The occupants of the house were able to escape unharmed. Miller said that all three units in the residence - a single-family home converted to three apartments - were occupied but it was unclear how many people were in the home when the blaze started, shortly after 1 a.m.
Miller said firefighters quickly determined the fire had travelled through the wall to the attic, which also caught fire.
"As a result, they had to move to a defensive attack as the fire broke through the roof," said Miller.
The roof has since collapsed into the second floor. Firefighters remain on the scene this morning, putting out hot spots.
"It's too dangerous at this point to go inside the house," said Miller.
Acting Fire Chief Chris Ferry estimates the damage at about $500,000, noting the home is a "total loss" and is not repairable.
"The preliminary investigation is leaning toward an electrical issue which caused the fire. It's not considered suspicious," he said.
There were no injuries to residents or firefighters. Smoke alarms were heard by firefighters when they arrived on the scene.
The weather conditions - whipping wind combined with rain and later snow - made the "stubborn" fire difficult to get under control, Miller said.
