Flin Flon RCMP are investigating after suspicious fires struck a pick-up truck and a camper near the same downtown property in a span of three days.
Flames destroyed a Dodge Ram truck parked in a First Avenue driveway early last Friday, Sept. 26. A separate fire on Sunday caused interior damage to a camper parked across the back alley.
Both incidents deeply worry Fire Chief Jim Petrie.
“A small fire can become a major fire very quickly, and many cities have shown that,” he said.
Summoned
In the first incident, firefighters were summoned to a truck fire at 12:30 am on Friday.
The blaze was already “fully involved” when firefighters arrived, Petrie said.
While some suspicious vehicle fires of the past have involved derelict cars and trucks, Petrie said the truck in this case was in regular use.
The truck was destroyed and siding on two adjacent garages damaged, he said.
No homes had to be evacuated, but Petrie said vehicle fires are “very dangerous” and any blaze that occurs near a residential area late at night “should concern everybody” in the community.
“That fire could [have] easily spread from one house to the next in the downtown area and kill lots of people,” said Petrie. “And we definitely don’t want to see that happen.”
Since firefighters determined the cause to be suspicious, the investigation was turned over to the RCMP.
At 7:28 pm on Sunday, Sept. 28, firefighters were summoned to a small fire inside a camper parked in a vacant lot across from the same First Avenue driveway.
Firefighters observed that a window in the graffiti-laden camper had been smashed out. The fire had already gone out, but firefighters made sure the scene was safe before leaving.
Firefighters also deemed this fire suspicious and turned the matter over to the Mounties.
Petrie encourages anyone with information on either incident to contact the RCMP.
Tipsters are also welcome to contact Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Callers to Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and may become eligible for a cash reward.
