Suspicious fires in Vancouver’s Chinatown neighbourhood under investigation

Vancouver police say officers are looking into several suspected arsons in the Chinatown neighbourhood, with at least one area left with expensive repair bills.

Vancouver Police Sgt. Steve Addison says three separate fires appeared to be deliberately set Monday night alone. The VPD is appealing to the public to come forward with information on the suspect or suspects.

“Anytime somebody’s going around lighting stuff on fire it has potential to not only hurt people but cause significant property damage,” Addison said.

One of the fires did cause damage to a commercial building, primarily to a market, which was vacant at the time.

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Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Chief Brian Bertuzzi says crews arrived around midnight Tuesday on East Pender to find the fire had been started in a doorway and had spread to the market, causing a window to break and the sprinklers to go off.

“[Damage] to the front of the store, it’s substantial… it will take a bit of work to clean up and get it back to working condition,” he said.

#VPDScanner: #VPD investigating three overnight arsons in Chinatown. Officers on foot patrol discovered two garbage containers on fire near Main and East Pender just after 8 p.m. yesterday. A third fire was discovered two hours later nearby. Fortunately, no injuries occurred. pic.twitter.com/8uBTiVOKvZ

— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) April 5, 2022

The other two fires were minor and were set in garbage containers along the same street, with Vancouver police officers also called to those scenes.

“The three that happened in close proximity to each other during a very short period of time, we suspect they are likely connected, we suspect they are likely set by the same person or people,” Addison said.

The VDP Major Crime Section Arson Unit is reviewing the fires and will be speaking with witnesses and combing surveillance video in hopes of identifying those responsible.

“If this stuff keeps happening it’s only a matter of time before somebody does get seriously hurt or burn the buildings to the ground,” Addison said.

He says residents and business owners in the Chinatown neighbourhood have already been dealing with a lot.

“Whether it’s graffiti which is rampant in that neighbourhood, or it’s the spike in incidents that were fuelled by hate or prejudice that we saw through the pandemic, or street disorder which spills over from East Hastings Street,” Addison said, adding police are working to address those concerns so that people feel safe in that community.

Anyone with information is urged to reach out to Vancouver police at 604-717-3321.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar