A 45-year-old Barrie man is facing two arson-related charges after an early morning garage fire in the city’s north end.

The fire broke out at a home on Livingstone Street West just before 1:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Barrie Police were the first to arrive and helped all five family members out of the home safely through a back door. Police won’t confirm their ages, but neighbours tell CTV News two children under the age of eight lived in the home.

The fire quickly spread into the attic and second floor of the house. Firefighters say it was difficult to put out

"The fire was challenging, it was going very good when we arrived on scene, there was a potential for accelerant involved…so it did present some challenges," said Barrie Fire Deputy Fire Chief Bill Boyes.

The cause of the fire has not been determined but it caused $200,000 in damages to the home and also caused heat damage to neighbouring homes.

“There was a very aggressive fire when they arrived, and they spoke to neighbours and witnesses in the area and they deemed it to be suspicious at that time,” says Barrie Police Constable Nicole Rodgers.

A man was taken from the scene to hospital with minor injuries and released into police custody and was charged.

Police say the man is facing two charges; arson – endangering life and arson – property damage. He remain in custody over the weekend and we'll be back in court on Monday morning.

Barrie Police won’t say the relationship of the man to the people inside the home but neighbours tell CTV News they believe the man arrested is the father of the children living in the home at the time.

The Ontario Fire Marshal Office is investigating and has not released the cause of the fire.