A fire that destroyed a White Rock condominium complex under construction May 15 and forced the evacuation of another building was deliberately set, RCMP said Wednesday.
Police said the early morning blaze in the 15200-block of Royal Avenue, which heavily damaged a nearby building that was home to more than 100 residents, and spread to several local businesses, is under investigation after police and fire officials concluded it was not an accident.
“This fire and the resulting displacement of the building’s residents has understandably shaken our community,” said White Rock RCMP Const. Chantal Sears. “The fact that it is now believed this fire was intentionally set will likely cause further distress to those residents.”
Many people living in the Ocean Ridge complex — located in White Rock’s central Five Corners area — fled the building with only the clothes they were wearing.
Anyone with information, or who may have seen anything suspicious, is asked to contact RCMP at 778-593-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
