Prince George, B.C. – A 49-year-old man charged in connection with a weekend house fire that left an 85-year-old man seriously injured will appear in Prince George Provincial Court today.

The suspect is charged with one count of arson relating to a suspicious fire in a large house on Merritt Road, off Westwood Drive, at 3 a.m. Saturday. The RCMP Serious Crime Unit announced the charge Sunday. It has not been determined whether further charges will be laid.

The elderly man found in the residence and rescued by firefighters continues to battle serious injuries at University Hospital. He was pulled out of the house as flames and heavy smoke shot through the upper floor and roof of the structure.   

 

A dollar estimate of the resulting damage has not been released, but photos of the house submitted to Opinion 250 News show that the damage is substantial.( see photo at right)

Twenty firefighters from four halls battled the blaze, remaining on scene for four hours. Police investigators were brought in after evidence was found at the site indicating the fire was suspicious in nature.