Police investigating suspicious fire at Colwood house

West Shore RCMP officers and Colwood Fire Rescue Service are on scene at a possible arson in a Colwood neighbourhood.

On July 19, 2021 at approximately 11:30 pm, multiple reports were received of a fire at a house on Betula Place, Colwood BC. When crews and police arrived, neighbours told them that the house was vacant. This was confirmed and no one is believed to have been harmed in the fire. The neighbour who reported the fire also kept it from spreading, using his water hose to keep the flames under control until the Colwood Fire Rescue Service arrived and put the fire out.

After containing the fire to the back of the house, Colwood Fire Rescue Service determined that the source of the fire was suspicious in nature. The West Shore RCMP General Investigation Section is on scene conducting an investigation.

If this had caught and spread we would be dealing with a very different, possibly tragic situation, said Cst Meighan MASSEY, Media Relations Officer for the West Shore RCMP, It is due to the swift actions of the neighbour who spotted the fire that this did not spread and cause further damage.

If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the West Shore RCMP at (250)474-2264 or if you wish to remain anonymous call CRIME STOPPERS at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).