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By Kate Bouey
Kelowna Cops Appeal For Help To Solve Fi

Kelowna Cops Appeal For Help To Solve Fire

Dec 28, 2018 | 11:37 AM

Video surveillance footage released by RCMP shows a number of cars driving past Dec. 19 fire. Police appeal for witnesses.

Kelowna RCMP have released video surveillance footage of a structure fire they believe to have been deliberately set.

On December 19, at around 8:30 p.m., officers were called to assist the Kelowna Fire Department at a structure fire in the 400 block of Royal Avenue.

There they found a pickup truck in a carport engulfed in flames, which had then spread to the structure.

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In an effort to advance the RCMP investigation, Kelowna’s General Investigation Section has made the video public.

“Several motorists were observed on the video surveillance footage, seized by police, passing by the blaze before emergency crews arrived on scene to battle the blaze,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “We believe there is a strong possibility that a witness may have observed the suspect or suspects fleeing from the crime scene situated at the corner of Pandosy Street and Royal Avenue, immediately after the blaze was sparked.”

Police are now urging those motorists to come forward to speak with police, and hope that further dash camera footage may be available of the fire scene.

“Investigators have no reason to believe that the incident was random in nature,” adds Cpl. O’Donaghey. “Thankfully the fire was quickly contained by fire crews and did not impact the operations of the hospital nearby.”

RCMP urge anyone with any information to come forward and contact Cst. Kevin Hamilton of the Kelowna RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) at 250-470-6302. Or remain completely anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net

by Kate Bouey

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