A 33-year-old man faces arson charges following a devastating fire that razed a building housing two Brandon businesses, a taxi company and a non-profit agency, as well as more than ten apartment tenants at 144 12th St. The incident unfolded in the early morning hours, prompting a response from both the police and Brandon Fire and Emergency Services. Thankfully, all tenants were safely evacuated by the authorities while firefighters battled the blaze for a substantial part of the day. The accused, charged with break and enter and arson endangering human life, allegedly initiated the fire after forcibly entering the building, prompting a swift police response and subsequent arrest.
The fire, instigated on November 20, 2023 at around 3 a.m. subsequent to a reported break-in, caused immediate chaos as an employee, seeking refuge in the office, detected the scent of smoke. Upon arrival, law enforcement apprehended the suspect, who had broken a front door window and ignited a fire inside. Despite police intervention and the successful evacuation of second-floor apartment residents, the fire quickly engulfed the structure. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, although the building collapsed around 8:30 a.m., presenting challenges for the firefighting crews throughout the morning.
Fire Captain Shayne Collister, speaking at the scene, noted the fire's containment around 9 a.m., despite intermittent difficulties in certain areas. Efforts involved employing heavy machinery to manage the burning wreckage. The incident particularly impacted Brandon University students among the tenants, raising concerns about their emotional well-being, having lost personal belongings and sentimental items.
The apartment building's disruption affected multiple residents, prompting police to relocate more than 10 individuals to temporary shelter through BPS. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign aims to provide support for those affected. Additionally, the fire ravaged the premises of two businesses: ABC Taxi and Turning Leaf, a non-profit with a staff of 16, impacting their operations.
Jeremy Randall, Turning Leaf’s supervisor, hurried to the site upon learning about the fire, while the non-profit’s Chief Operating Officer, Jennifer Biggs, affirmed the continuation of their services despite office destruction, owing to a digital storage system. However, they are still assessing the extent of their losses.
Regarding ABC Taxi, their operations are expected to continue without disruption, with efforts underway to establish a new location. An employee confirmed the company’s commitment to providing uninterrupted service.
The incident disrupted the lives of tenants and businesses, but it also revealed the resilience and determination of the affected organizations to ensure service continuity despite adversity.