Kelowna RCMP nab suspected arsonist

KELOWNA – Kelowna RCMP have arrested a man they believe is responsable for setting two fires in Kelowna this morning.

On Aug. 20 around 6 a.m. RCMP and Kelowna Fire Department responded to the area of Leckie and Baron Road following reports of a man seen lighting bushes on fire, according to an RCMP media release.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze while police spoke to witnesses. Shortly after 8 a.m. investigators were led to a business located in the 1100 block of KLO Road where an officer spotted the suspect, before he fled on a bicycle.

“Our police officer stayed at the scene after she spotted smoke emanating from the area of the front entrance to the store,” Kelowna RCMP media liaison officer Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in the release. “She located, removed and quickly extinguished a burning piece of material that had been placed amongst numerous propane tanks. Thankfully no one was injured as a result of these reckless acts.”

The police established an area of containment and carried out a search. 

The suspect, a 26-year-old Kelowna man, was taken into police custody without further incident on Pandosy Street near Rose Avenue. He is currently in police custody, facing a number of potential charges.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Brie Welton or call (250) 801-9235 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.