The RCMP and Nanaimo Fire Rescue are investigating two separate incidents that heavily damaged four vehicles early Wednesday.
Three of the cars were parked at Lagoon Road near Piper Lagoon. Nanaimo Fire Rescue responded to that alarm at about 3:40 a.m.
Capt. Ennis Mond, Nanaimo Fire Rescue chief fire prevention officer, said two of the vehicles were destroyed in the blaze that appears to have started in a Volkswagen camper van.
“Two were totally written off and one, I wouldn’t be surprised if they write it off,” Mond said.
The fence of a neighbouring property was also burned. The property owners were not home at the time of the fire.
A car parked on the side of McGirr Road near the McGirr Sports Fields in north Nanaimo also burned at about 5:18 a.m.
“There was a fire inside of it, nobody around, and the sunroof was open,” Mond said.
No injuries have been reported from either incident and the vehicles have been towed for examination.
Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said none of the cars were reported stolen.
“On one of the cars the gas cap was open. The side door was open as well, which leads investigators to believe the fires were probably purposely set,” O’Brien said. “At this point, we don’t have any witnesses. We’re hoping that somebody will come forward and assist us with the investigation.”
Police also believe the two incidents are linked because of their proximity to one another – they occurred approximately two kilometres apart – and the unlikeliness two fires would happen in the same area within two hours.
“It appears to be deliberately set and anybody starting fires we want to identify who this person is – or people – and put a stop to it as quick as possible,” O’Brien said.
Anyone with information, please call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, text 274637 with keyword ‘Nanaimo’ or www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.
