Two separate but simultaneous fires at the U-Haul facility on Topaz Avenue were among four suspicious blazes reported Sunday night.
No one was injured, but two vehicles, including a cube van, and two storage containers were damaged, said Victoria Fire Department Deputy Chief Dan Atkinson. The first 911 call came about 9:50 p.m.
“Two fires of that significance appearing in that proximity or degree of geographic separation, it appears to be an intentional act,” Atkinson said. “There’s nothing to lead us to believe otherwise.”
The van fire was off Blanshard Street while the container fire was in the middle of the U-Haul lot, he said.
Earlier in the evening, firefighters responded to two dumpster fires on Ridge Road in Fernwood. Both are considered suspicious, Atkinson said.
No link among the Sunday fires has been determined. Investigations are ongoing.
Sunday’s suspicious fires follow the arrest last week of a 50-year-old man in connection with three suspicious fires in James Bay in May.
Victoria police and firefighters responded to three fires within 10 minutes early May 14, including one in a construction bin, one on a heritage structure’s exterior staircase and one in a dumpster that spread to a fence.
Those came after an April alert from police about a run of suspicious fires that began March 5. One of the blazes caused extensive damage to the cab of a pickup truck in Beacon Hill Park.
Police ask anyone with information about the fires to call them at 250-995-7654, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
