Port Alberni RCMP investigating 3 suspicious fires, woman arrested
Port Alberni RCMP are seeking any potential witnesses to three suspicious fires that were lit over the past two days.
The most recent fire occurred at 8:35 a.m. Tuesday along 3rd Avenue near Harbour Road.
Mounties and firefighters responded to the scene and spotted a woman "actively adding material to the fire," police said Wednesday.
The woman then tried to flee the scene but was arrested shortly after, according to RCMP.
Police say the woman was also identified on security footage from a nearby business. She appeared in court on Tuesday for the suspicious fire and on other unrelated charges.
RCMP say they are investigating the fire, as well as two others that occurred on Monday.
One of the fires was reported at 2:45 p.m. at a home on 2nd Avenue between Mar Street and Montrose Street.
A neighbour reported the fire and attempted to put it out as first responders made their way to the scene.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the rear of the building and an external shed that was attached to the house.
Police say the fire caused minimal damage to the main building, which was vacant at the time.
"The cause of the fire is undetermined at present, it is suspicious and is still under investigation," said Port Alberni RCMP on Tuesday.
Police say they're looking to speak with any witnesses, or anyone who may have dash cam footage of the area around 2nd Avenue between Mar and Montrose streets. Mounties say they're looking to identify people who were in the area near the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, Port Alberni RCMP are investigating a third suspicious fire that was reported around 11:55 p.m. Tuesday.
At the time, police received a report of a vehicle on fire on 4th Avenue between Redford and Bute streets.
Police say the vehicle was "completely engulfed" in flames and was destroyed. However, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and police say there was no damage to surrounding property.
Investigators are also asking to speak with any potential witnesses or those with footage of the area.
"With the current weather and winds it is crucial that we control all potential sources of ignition and be mindful of activities in our area that may result in fires," said Port Alberni RCMP.
"For fire response within the city of Port Alberni call 911 and ask for fire, if suspects or suspicious activity is observed, request police as well," said RCMP.
Anyone with information on any of the fires is asked to call Port Alberni RCMP 250-723-2424.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.