On April 19, 2022, at 1:50pm, the Fort St John RCMP received a request from Fire Services to assist with traffic control for a structure fire in the area of 98th Street/96th Avenue.

While at that location, police received information that led them to believe the fire was suspicious and appeared to be criminal in nature.

No one was located in the building once the fire was put out.

Frontline police officers have remained on scene to secure the multi-occupant structure in order to execute a search warrant in the ongoing investigation.

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.

The Fort St John RCMP continue to investigate and ask that anyone who may have seen anyone or anything suspicious in the area around that time, or has knowledge about this incident, to please contact the Fort St. John RCMP at 250-787-8100.

Information provided by Fort St. John RCMP