Police are seeking information from the public as they investigate fires lit in three dumpsters around Hope early Friday morning.
It was around 4:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, when the call came to the Hope RCMP informing them of the dumpster fires – one near the recreation centre and two others in the commercial hub around Wallace Street between Water and Fraser avenues. All three fires, which happened within short order of each other, are being treated as arsons and are under investigation said Hope’s Staff Sergeant Karol Rehdner.
None of the surrounding businesses suffered damages, Rehdner confirmed, and there were no injuries as a result of the fires. “We have no information to suggest that the businesses were being targeted, just the fact that there were dumpsters there,” he said, adding that police will be reviewing security camera footage from the associated businesses.
Both police and the Hope Fire Department responded to the fires – one RCMP member even used the fire extinguisher he had in his police vehicle.
There are social media reports of a tree outside Christ Church on Park Street being lit on fire early Friday morning. This is not part of the investigation, Rehdner confirmed. The Hope Fire Department could not be reached for comment, or to confirm the tree fire report, as of publication time.
Police have heard that there may have been people on bicycles in the area at the time, Rehdner said, and they are interested in hearing from anyone who was out at this time that may have information. The Hope RCMP detachment can be reached at 604-869-7750.
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emelie.peacock@hopestandard.com