Suspect charged with arson after fire destroyed Coldstream home

A 38-year-old man has been charged with arson after a fire at a home in Coldstream completely destroyed the property.

Matthew Eric Mason, born 1983, has been charged with arson with disregard for human life as well as a charge for breaching a release order.

The fire took place just before 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at a residence at Hawthorne Place in Coldstream. Police had to evacuate people from nearby properties while firefighters were battling the blaze.

READ MORE: RCMP investigating after fire destroys North Okanagan house

According to a Jan. 18 Vernon North Okanagan media release, no one was hurt by the fire and all occupants of the home were accounted for.

Police arrested Mason several hours after the fire.

Court records show Mason has two outstanding charges against a spouse for criminal harassment and making harassing communication from November 2021. He was also charged last November for disobeying a court order.

Mason remains in custody and has his next court appearance Jan. 20.

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