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Calgary police believe the suspect himself was behind two suspected house fires that took place in the northwestern Varsity community in recent weeks. Investigators believe the man himself was patrolling the car before setting it on fire on May 18 and June 4. Calgary Police Service photo
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Calgary police are searching for an alleged arsonist who is believed to be involved in two home fires in the northwest of the city, including one that happened Saturday morning.
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Firefighters received calls from the northwest neighborhood of Varsity shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday to report smoke and noise from a garage on Block 1200 of Varsity Estates Road NW
When they arrived, teams reported a single two-story house surrounded by flames and smoke. Firefighters began fighting the flames and worked to get everyone removed from the house and neighboring buildings. A total of five people were removed from the house where the flames erupted, which is damaged and uninhabitable. Residents of neighboring houses will be temporarily displaced.
Alberta Health Services and Calgary Police also attended the scene.
Police on Saturday released an update saying investigators have a suspect in connection with the fire. The man himself is believed to be responsible for another fire in Varsity last month.
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On May 18, crews responded to a fire near the 1100 block of Varsity Estates Drive NW. An investigation found CCTV footage showing a man setting fire to a back shed before fleeing. The fire spread to a garage and a house.
Calgary police released this image of a suspect who was captured by CCTV setting fire to a residential shed in the community of Varsity, northwest Calgary, on May 18, 2022. He is now believed to be behind a second fire that occurred on June 4th. Photo of Calgary Police Service
Police said in both cases they believe the suspect was patrolling the car before lighting the fire.
Calgary police believe the suspect himself was behind two suspected house fires that took place in the northwestern Varsity community in recent weeks. Calgary Police Service photo
The suspect is described as being between 20 and 30 years old, has fair skin and is well shaven. He usually wears a hat and a backpack.
“We are grateful that no one has been injured as a result of these fires, but it is deeply worrying that there are fires in or near residential homes while residents are at home, and often asleep,” Calgary police said in a statement. a statement. “There is no information to indicate that these are targeted incidents and the cause is unknown. It is very important that we identify and locate the person we believe is connected to these events.”
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Anyone with information about the alleged arsonist is asked to call the police at 403-266-1234. Anonymous tips can be sent through Crime Stoppers.
Teams also remained busy Saturday morning fighting an independent fire. At around 4:45 a.m., a 911 call from Calgary received several calls reporting that a house on block 100 of Evansmeade Common NW was on fire. Teams rushed to the scene where they reported a fire in two two-story single-family homes, a press release said Saturday morning. A second alarm was sounded to make sure there were enough resources at the scene.
Homes were evacuated and crews began using air currents to fight the flames.
The Calgary fire said both homes were significantly damaged by the fire and three surrounding homes suffered minor heat damage. Three adults and six children were safely removed from their homes. Investigators are working to determine the cause and origin of the fire while AHS and Calgary police were on the scene to help keep everyone safe.
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Calgary fire investigates fire in Evansmeade Common NW that destroyed several homes in the Evanston community in Calgary on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Photo by Darren Makowichuk / DARREN MAKOWICHUK / Postmedia
Anyone with photos or videos of the fire is asked to contact the Calgary Fire Department.
The two fires on Saturday in the early hours of the morning come hours after several houses in Evanston were damaged by Friday’s flames that spread through strong winds. Two sets of duplexes were destroyed, leaving four residences uninhabitable. Three other homes were damaged by heat exposure.
Firefighters pour water on homes badly damaged by a fire in the northwest community of Evanston on Friday, June 3, 2022. DARREN MAKOWICHUK / Postmedia
Investigators are working to identify the cause of the fire, which was not considered suspicious, and no one was injured.
The two-alarm fire had 21 devices at the scene, while the Calgary Police Service and Alberta Health Services also responded to the call. Enmax and ATCO were in place to control utilities.
– With files by Josh Aldrich
dshort@postmedia.com
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