West Shore RCMP are investigating two suspicious fires in the Highlands and examining video surveillance footage of someone running from the scene before one of the blazes started.
The fires happened within four hours on Wednesday, about one kilometre apart.
Joe Bryant, a Times Colonist newspaper carrier, called Highlands Volunteer Fire Department at 3:17 a.m. after he saw flames shooting from the back of an abandoned house in the 1900-block of Millstream Road. Bryant, a retired firefighter, saw flames lick up two large cedar trees.
Highlands firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to the tinder-dry forest, but the house was destroyed.
West Shore RCMP believe someone deliberately set fire to a shed behind the house.
About 7:30 a.m., firefighters got a call that there was a bulletin board on fire at the corner of Millstream Road and Lost Lake Road.
Highlands Fire Chief Dean Ford said it was clear that someone had started the fire because there was a pile of newspapers crumpled up under the board to provide fuel for the flames.
West Shore RCMP have obtained video surveillance in the area that showed a suspect arriving and running from the scene just before the fire, Const. Alex Berube said.
Investigators are trying to determine that person’s identity and whether the individual was responsible for both fires.
“It’s extremely frustrating, given the dry conditions,” Ford said.
“For anyone to be deliberately setting fire, it could be a catastrophe for the Island.”
Anyone with information on the fires can call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
