A fire that gutted a Mission home on Aug. 4 has been determined to be arson, and might be related to the Lower Mainland gang conflict, Mission RCMP say.
Mission RCMP and the Mission Fire Rescue Service responded to reports of a house fire on Hurd Street shortly after 2 a.m., with multiple vehicles and an adjacent shed engulfed in flames.
Witnesses reported on social media that they had seen a vehicle flee the scene and that they heard explosions from the fire.
“The Mission RCMP serious crime unit has taken conduct of the investigation and are working in conjunction with the fire investigators,” said Cpl. Jason Raaflaub, media officer with the detachment.
“(We) are encouraging anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage or relevant information to come forward and speak to investigators.”
Raaflaub said they are looking into the possibility that suspects used an accelerant to set the fire. He said no injuries were sustained by the residents.
The explosions neighbours heard were likely coming from the vehicles burning in the driveway, said Duty Chief Dave Taylor.
Investigators were on scene collecting evidence, and the property remains taped off by police tape.
Mission RCMP officers executed a search warrant on the neighbouring property in March 2021.
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