Man arrested for arson over suspicious fires along B.C. highway

SQUAMISH — RCMP have arrested a man for arson after three suspicious fires along Highway 99 last month.

Sea to Sky RCMP say the fires on the west side of the highway between Whistler and Squamish all occurred in the early hours of Aug. 22.

Police say they received multiple reports of a fast-spreading fire, and arrested a 29-year-old man after speaking to witnesses.

The three separate fires were along the north end of the Sea to Sky trail as it approaches Highway 99, and police say all three have been declared out by the BC Wildfire Service.

A fire in that location is listed by the service as having burned for three days before being extinguished on Aug. 25.

RCMP investigators worked with the BC Conservation Officer Service, Natural Resource Officers, and the wildfire service to conduct the ongoing investigation.

Squamish RCMP is asking anyone who may have been in the area at that time, or has dashcam video or photographs to contact them.

About 140 wildfires are burning in B.C., with the wildfire service saying recent rain has suppressed fire activity.

The service says there are no wildfires of note in the province and about 118 fires have been declared out in the past week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2026.

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