Fort St. John RCMP investigate possible arson

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Fort St. John firefighters responded to a fire just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday that is being investigated as a possible arson.

When crews arrived on the scene, the fire was showing from the second-floor unit in a fourplex, but quick intervention by the department allowed them to confine the fire without it spreading into other units.

The Fort St. John RCMP were requested to assist with traffic control, and while on the scene, police officers received information that led them to believe the fire was suspicious and appeared criminal.

No one was in the building during the fire, but frontline police officers remained on the scene to secure the structure to execute a search warrant.

Anyone with information that can help with the investigation is asked to call the detachment at 250-787-8100.

Arsons are particularly heinous because the perpetrator has the intent to damage property with no regard to the lives of anyone who, in this instance, may be in the residence at the time, said Constable Chad Neustaeter, Fort St John RCMP Media Relations Officer.

An arson has the potential to get out of control very quickly and does not discriminate on where the damage goes or who’s lives it may take.

Additionally, when firefighters first arrived on the scene, they prioritized getting a water supply using the nearest fire hydrant.

Once this was completed, many vehicles continued to drive through the emergency scene and over the hydrant line.

The Fort St. John Fire Department would like to remind the public to avoid emergency areas to help keep the victims and the firefighters safe.

“Around the world, there are numerous cases of firefighters being injured on scene due to burst hoses or hoses being dragged through the incident scene by vehicles striking firefighters,” the department said in a social media post about the incident.