arsonist strikes at commercial boat

Serial arsonist suspected in Sechelt boat and house fires

RCMP investigating


Andy Ivens, The Province

Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
A fire destroyed a commercial fishing boat in Sechelt early yesterday, and fears are growing that a serial arsonist is at work in the Sunshine Coast community.

Three suspicious house fires a few blocks apart on Sechelt Indian band territory 10 days earlier launched an arson investigation.
Sechelt acting Fire Chief Trevor Pike said the 18-metre boat was destroyed in the fire that started around 1:30 a.m.
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465...res.jpg?size=l A boat torched in Sechelt may be the work of a serial arsonist. Three houses had previously burned.

Duane Burnett - for The Province


"We're not sure if it's linked to the three structure fires or not," said Pike.
He's waiting for results from a crime lab to determine whether accelerants were used in the three house fires.
"They appear to be deliberately set," he added. "They were all within three blocks of one another."

Two of the three houses were vacant at the time. The third fire, involving a trailer at Sundance Trailer Park, was occupied but no one was home at the time.

"The whole community's concerned," said Pike.
"The RCMP have a list of suspects that they are following up on."
Pike said the boat broke in two during the blaze.
"I've seen that boat for years, now," said freelance reporter and photojournalist Duane Burnett, who lives two blocks from the Salem Park boat launch where the seiner went up in flames.
He said the boat "has just been sitting there" on blocks in the Salem Park parking lot on the Sechelt band property.
Burnett said he was worried.

"This whole neighbourhood could have gone up in smoke," he said.
"It was right next to the forest."
Anyone with information is asked to call Sechelt RCMP at 604-885-2266.
aivens@theprovince.com