SURREY — Police are investigating what they have deemed a suspicious fire outside the city hall in Surrey, B.C., which triggered the building’s interior sprinkler system.

The Surrey Police Service says officers arrived to find one side of the building engulfed in smoke after a call from firefighters at about 3:30 a.m. Monday.

Police say there were no reported injuries, but the fire caused “significant” property damage.

They say firefighters told police the blaze had likely started in a portable toilet set up against the side of the building and the heat had caused the exterior glass to break, allowing smoke to enter city hall and set off the sprinkler system.

Police say the initial investigation has uncovered video footage of a potential suspect in the fire believed to have been sparked by human activity.

The force has released two images of the suspect, described as a white man between the ages of 45 and 65 with short hair and a slim build, and anyone who recognizes him or has additional information is asked to contact police.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2026.