The woman accused of starting a fire at Cascade Gardens that gutted four townhouse units made a court appearance in Penticton today, Oct. 17, 2016. Steve Arstad

Woman accused of arson in Penticton townhouse fire to undergo psychiatric evaluation

PENTICTON – The woman accused of arson in connection with a townhouse complex fire in Penticton last week appeared in court today for a bail hearing and was remanded for a psychiatric examination.

Sydney Leer appeared before Judge Meg Shaw in Penticton court today, Oct. 17, on two arson charges stemming from a blaze at Cascade Gardens townhouse complex in the 1400 block of Penticton Avenue on Thursday, Oct. 13.

The blaze, which displaced residents of four units in the complex, took Penticton firefighters several hours to extinguish.

Leer was remanded for 30 days for the psychiatric examination.

There was a publication ban on today's bail hearing.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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