An individual suspected of a wave of dumpster fire arson in North Battleford is now in police custody after being caught in the act by video surveillance cameras setting another fire Sept. 15.
The arson suspect was arrested by the RCMP Thursday after being identified as the individual who set fires in the vicinity of 6th Avenue and 109th Street in North Battleford, an area where a rash of dumpster blazes have occurred.
In a statement, the City of North Battleford said the evidence gathered by North Battleford Fire and Emergency Services was turned over to the RCMP, leading to the arrest. The name of the individual charged has not been released.
Several suspicious fires in that neighbourhood over the past two weeks prompted the investigtion. The first blazes were serious ones that extensively damaged sheds in the vicinity, with those followed by a number of smaller blazes that affected dumpsters about a block away. About nine fires occurred over a week's time, according to the fire department, all of them were deemed suspicious.
The investigation was carried out by Deputy Chief Kevin Steinborn.
In an interview with the News-Optimist, Steinborn said the fires were getting to be "an everyday occurrence," so the department decided to try to catch the perpetrator in the act by setting up surveillance cameras.
"We caught an individual lighting the fire on the night of the fourteenth," said Steinborn. However, the camera was only able to capture his image from behind.
Another camera was placed in a different location, and on the night of Sept. 15. Steinborn another fire was lit.
"We were able to get him on camera," he said.
The suspect was identified Thursday morning and an arrest was made that afternoon. Senior Special Constable Ross MacAngus also assisted in the investigation.
The fire department was prompted to set up the surveillance cameras because of the frequency of the fires, the deputy chief said. The frequency of the fires in the same general area became a serious situation that had to be dealt with, Steinborn said.
"One fire is one too many," said Steinborn.
In a statement, North Battleford Fire Chief Pat MacIsaac said he was "proud of our team's investigative skills, expertise and use of technology which allowed us to conduct our own investigation."
To discourage future arson, the fire department is encouraging North Battleford citizens to reduce clutter and combustibles in yards and businesses. Citizens are also being urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the future.
