Sunshine Coast RCMP are seeking a person of interest believed responsible for deliberately setting three fires in Sechelt last Saturday night.
Just after 10 p.m. on July 12, police and Sechelt Fire Department received a call of a home on fire on Xenichen Avenue. "The fire was fully involved when we arrived," said Trevor Pike, acting Sechelt fire chief. "The small, single-storey structure was brought under control and extinguished within 20 minutes."
Pike said while responding to the fire on Xenichen Avenue, crews on Sechelt engine number one witnessed a second structure fire in a trailer at the Sundance Trailer Park just off Highway 101.
"Engine number one and the next responding Sechelt apparatus attended this fire. It was also brought under control and extinguished in approximately 25 minutes."
But fire crews were not done for the night. A short while later, a third alarm was initiated, this time for a two-and-a-half-storey family residence located on Sinku Avenue.
"Mutual aid from Roberts Creek and Half-moon Bay fire departments was requested," Pike said. "Roberts Creek provided initial attack on this fire with assistance from Half-moon Bay and eventually Sechelt units once they were released from the first two fires."
Pike said fire crews from Halfmoon Bay were also put on standby at the Sechelt fire station in case of another event.
"Ambulance paramedics provided rehab for the firefighters. One firefighter was taken to St. Mary's Hospital and was treated for heat exhaustion, but no other injuries occurred," Pike added.
All three dwellings were vacant at the time of the fires, but there was significant property loss.
Pike said the structure on Xenichen Avenue was destroyed, the trailer fire is still being evaluated and as of Monday afternoon, the Sechelt Indian Band and the insurance company were determining whether the trailer could be saved. The fire on Sinku Avenue resulted in minimal damage to the structure. Pike said the home is still intact, but does have some smoke damage.
"Investigators from both the Sunshine Coast RCMP and the Sechelt Fire Department are currently investigating the cause of the fires," said Cpl. Kris Josephson. "At this time, the fires appear to have been deliberately set. Police are still in the preliminary stages of this investigation, and are seeking a person of interest who may have involvement in this matter."
Police are also seeking information from the public. Anyone who may have witnessed these incidents is asked to call police at 604-885-2266.
