Body found outside 3rd Avenue East Fire

The body of a 58-year-old man was discovered outside a duplex on 3rd Avenue East after emergency crews responded to a fire at the residence.

According to Owen Sound Police, they received multiple calls around 1:30 p.m. Sunday about a fire at a third-floor apartment in a duplex.

A deceased male was found on the sidewalk directly in front of the building.

“The circumstances around the death and apartment fire are currently under investigation by the Office of the Coroner, the Ontario Fire Marshall, and the Criminal Investigations Branch of the Owen Sound Police Service,” police said in a statement.

Acting Fire Captain Matt Given was one of the emergency responders called to the scene.

“When we arrived, there was a male out front of the apartment building being attended to by EMS,” Given said. “We proceeded around to the back and made entrance up the fire escape.”

Given added that the blaze caused extensive damage, but that it was contained to the one unit.

While the name of the deceased has not been released, Given confirmed that the individual was a resident of the building. He also confirmed witness reports of knives being present at the scene.

“That report that was made was true. There were knives in front,” he said.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damages have yet to be released.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Owen Sound police at 519-376-1234.