Arrest in 2011 Yonge St. fire   Play video

TORONTO - Police have arrested a man in connection with the January 2011 arson that injured several firefighters and destroyed a historic building.

Stewart Poirier, 53, faces nine charges, including attempted murder and four arson-related counts.

Poirier, who was convicted of arson in April 2011 and served six months in jail, was initially arrested Friday and charged with one count of failure to comply with probation and one count of threatening death or bodily harm.

The additional charges of two counts of arson, one count of attempted murder, and two counts of mischief endangering life were laid Monday, when he made made a court appearance.

One count of arson relates to the January 2011 destruction of a downtown heritage building that was formerly the Empress Hotel. A number of firefighters were injured battling that massive blaze.

The other count of arson relates to a fire last Thursday at his Toronto Community Housing dwelling at 123 Sackville St.

Poirier's previous arson conviction in April 2011 is for setting the Inglewood Arms Hotel on fire. He was given three years' probation with conditions, including that he not possess fire-starting tools and that he attend substance-abuse and anger-management programs.

He was remanded into custody and is due back in court Thursday.