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The RCMP have released a shocking revelation of a suspected serial arsonist.
Over the past four years, Police have reason to believe 29 suspicious fires were deliberately set in Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Osoyoos, Oliver, Penticton, Summerland and Lake Country, according to a statement released by the RCMP.
The RCMP’s Intentionally Set Wildfires Task Force, along with BC Wildfire Services, began an investigation in May after “evidence gathered during the course of the investigations into these fires have led investigators to believe that they are connected and that the cause was determined to be arson.”
The majority of these fires were lit in "interface settings," where homes are close to forests or grasslands, said RCMP Staff Sgt. Annie Linteau.
"One of these fires, which occurred on July 15, 2017, in Lake Country, destroyed a number of homes. Thankfully, no one was injured or killed but the potential for the loss of life was considerable," said Linteau.
The 29 wildfires include the following incidents stretching back to July 7, 2014:
- July 7, 2014, K50209, Naramata
- July 7, 2014, White Lake Rd, Penticton
- July 9, 2014, Richter Pass, Osoyoos
- July 15, 2014, Mt. Kobau, Oliver
- July 15, 2014, Apex Rd, Penticton
- July 17, 2014, Reservoir Rd / Landfill Rd, Penticton
- July 22, 2014, White Lake Rd, Okanagan Falls
- August 11, 2014, Chute Lake Rd, Naramata
- August 11, 2014, Green Mountain Rd, Penticton
- August 13, 2014, White Lake Rd, Penticton
- August 19, 2014, North Naramata Rd, Naramata
- September 15, 2014, Green Mountain Rd, Penticton
- July 2, 2015, Canyon View Rd, Summerland
- August 7, 2015, Pampas Grass Way, Oliver
- August 8, 2015, Spiller Rd, Penticton
- August 11, 2015, Commonage Rd, Lake Country
- August 11, 2015, Beaver Lake Rd, Lake Country
- August 12, 2015, Gulch Rd, Naramata
- August 14, 2015, White Lake Rd, Penticton
- April 9, 2016, Fairview-Cawston Rd, Cawston
- August 17, 2016, Commonage Rd, Lake Country
- August 17, 2016, Oyama Rd, Lake Country
- July 3, 2017, Pixie Beach, Lake Country
- July 15, 2017, Okanagan Centre Rd W, Lake Country
- September 1, 2017, Westhills Rd, Penticton
- September 1, 2017, Old Princeton Hwy, Summerland
Anyone with information about the suspicious fires is asked to call the Intentionally Set Wildfires Task Force's designated tip line at 1-855-685-8788 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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