The Niagara Regional Police Service is investigating a fatal fire that occurred on February 10, 2026, in a wooded area of St. Catharines that could have regional implications for nearby communities such as Grimsby. Officers on patrol located a large, active fire involving a tent in a wooded area near Mountain Locks Park and the Merritt Trail, close to Glendale Avenue, at around 3:15 a.m. Emergency crews from St. Catharines Fire & Emergency Services extinguished the blaze and a man was found deceased once the flames were out.
The 1 District Criminal Investigative Branch of the Niagara Regional Police Service and the Office of the Fire Marshal (Ontario) are working to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Police say the cause remains under investigation; authorities have not publicly confirmed that the fire is suspicious. As a regional police force, NRPS may use resources from across its districts to support the probe, but investigators have not confirmed which specific district units are assisting.
Residents in the Grimsby area are being advised to expect the possibility of road restrictions or an increased police presence in the coming days as investigators work the scene and look for evidence. Anyone with dashcam footage or information about activity in the area is asked to contact Niagara Regional Police at 905-688-4111 (option 3, ext. 1009865). Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers of Niagara at 1-800-222-8477.
