The fire that destroyed the residence of Allen Piche has been deemed non-criminal.
The fire was originally labeled as suspicious, as it looked like a case of arson, but Grand Forks RCMP’s Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison stated the investigation found that the fire was not caused by a criminal act.
“We believe it was caused in a pile of debris that was ignited 48 feet (15 metres) away from the residence,” he said. “The wind probably blew sparks onto the residence and adjacent grass and started the fire.”
The cause of the fire is still being determined Harrison added, though the quick response from the Christina Lake Fire Department and Ministry of Forest Fire Fighting Crew kept the situation from becoming a serious forest fire.
The fire destroyed the residence and nearby outbuildings, along with surrounding trees.
Piche, also known as The Bear Dude, gained worldwide fame after it was found he was feeding bears on his property during an investigation related to a grow-op in 2010.
He was charged with two counts of feeding dangerous wildlife and fined a total of $6,900 and is currently awaiting sentencing for the production of controlled substances and possession for purposes of trafficking, with a decision expected on Sept. 10.
Piche could not be reached for comment.
