Barber – Goderich Free Press

(BARBER TOWNSHIP, ON) – One person has been charged with arson in relation to a fire in Barber Township.

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the Temiskaming Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with the Elk Lake Fire Department responded to a fire at a residence on Mountain Chute Road in Barber Township.

As a result of the investigation, Richard GINGRAS, 46-years-of-age of Barber Township, was arrested and charged with the following:

Arson – disregard for human life
Arson – damage to property

Additionally, as a result on an unrelated ongoing investigation, Richard GINGRAS, 46-years-of-age of Barber Township, was also charged with:

Careless Use of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited device or Ammunition – two counts
Unauthorized Poss of a Firearm
Mischief – obstructs, interrupts or interferes with any person in the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Haileybury, on May 13, 2025.

(BARBER TOWNSHIP, ON) – The Temiskaming Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) continue to investigate a single vehicle collision where a 65-year-old person, from Barber Township has died.

On December 12, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Temiskaming OPP, responded to a single-vehicle collision on Highway 65 West, Barber Township. Police located a turned over vehicle in the ditch. The lone driver of the vehicle was transported to hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced deceased.

The OPP Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (TIME) team and the OPP Technical Collision Investigator (TCI) are assisting with the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing under the direction of the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OCC-OFPS). A postmortem examination is schedule to take place at a later date.