East Vancouver arson attempt, man arrested: Vancouver Fire
Posted July 9, 2023 9:33 am.
A man was arrested in East Vancouver Saturday evening after attempting to light an abandoned building on fire, the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services says.
Assistant Fire Chief Pierre Moore says when they arrived on scene just before 5:30 p.m., Vancouver Police Department officers already had a man in custody.
Moore adds multiple witnesses said the suspect was lighting garbage around the scene on fire in an attempt to set the building, near the intersection of East Hastings Street and Commercial Drive, alight.
“The fire was upgraded from a structure fire three to five because it was a working fire. Crews laid lines and entered the structure that was boarded up from a previous fire,” he said.
No one was injured in the attempt, he adds. Commercial Drive and East Hastings Street were closed to traffic for some time, as crews had to lay fire hoses across the streets.
The fire was tackled quickly, Moore says, and the investigation remains ongoing.
“We’re looking at video in the area, and the fire investigators are still doing their report.”
–With files from Angelyna Mintz
