Emerald Drive Fire Arson

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 01:19 PM

Blaze was deliberate say Fire Department investigators. (Photo opinion250 staff)

Prince George, B.C. – A fire that hit an Emerald Drive home in the north end of Prince George early yesterday was no accident.

Deputy Fire Chief, John Lane says the fire has been determined an act of arson.

The home was the site that had been the subject of an RCMP search last week. RCMP seized some crack cocaine, and arrested two males who face a string of charges relating to drugs and the forcible confinement and sexual assault of an 18 year old female. There were no injuries in the fire which caused about $20 thousand dollars damage.

The Emerald Drive fire didn’t get much coverage because of the fire at the Columbus Hotel which has claimed one life. A man who was seriously burned in that blaze has now died of his injuries. Two other people are still missing.

RCMP investigators are on the scene of the Columbus fire this afternoon, Deputy Fire Chief John Lane says their presence is needed because this may be a crime scene “Certainly, as we examine items to find a cause for this fire, it is very important we handle any evidence in a correct fashion, that is why the RCMP are involved.”

Lane is not prepared to say if the Columbus fire was also an act of arson “We go into these investigations with a wide open mind”.

The other fire which happened about an hour after the Emerald Drive arson has been determined to be accidental. One of the residents in the Quadrant Crescent home had left a pot on the stove and the element had not been turned off. No one injured, and damage has been pegged at $75,000.

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Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 01:19 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: editor on August 20 2008 3:28 PM

c'mon people, watch the language!
that is why the post has been deleted.
Elaine Macdonald

Posted by: s8fsj on August 20 2008 3:59 PM

It sounds like the fire departments had a very busy day. Thank you for your continued heroism taking care of the city!

Posted by: travism on August 20 2008 5:09 PM

No injuries, one less crackhouse... some would say not a bad start...

Posted by: REALIST on August 20 2008 6:36 PM

Guess I was right on the money getajob. Sorry to hear about your friends. There is still hope that this was not related to the Emerald street fire, but given the history of past fires (the shooting pf B.Moore, and subsequent fire in Fort St. James I think it was there) there is definitely a history of fires used as a means of weapon within gang wars. It tends to send a clear message regarding who really owns what. Now that the supposed "war on drugs" has basically reduced the old guard to minimal status (The Crew), this destabilization has created the exact atmosphere for new and more violent gangs to fill the void. The police actions do not stop the drug trade, it just creates chaos which causes more violence and shootings. Increased prison terms do not work as long as the demand is present, someone will be there to provide the trade. Legalization and governmental control over drug distribution is the only way that this problem can be solved, but given Harpers total fantasy about things such as insite and prison terms, we will only see the drug problems get worse. Eventually, intelligence will have to win out with our politicians, but until that day the situation will only get worse and the taxpayer will end up paying an even greater price, the longer sanity takes to prevail. Just like Campbell and the other neo-cons ideology has created a huge homeless problem this also will take a huge financial commitment to solve once common sense takes over.

Posted by: getajob on August 20 2008 7:42 PM

Friends? Think u got me mixed up with an other poster....I dont support this type of crap! Be the first one to say how this city is a hole now because of theses punks.

Posted by: seamutt on August 20 2008 7:58 PM

I don't think I would want to live near the "mens club" on Fir.

Posted by: REALIST on August 20 2008 10:10 PM

Sorry, I assumed when you posted that you had parked your bike there for twenty years as it was the safest place to park, that you were a regular there. Why would you park your bike where it is not with friends? Perhaps you were trying to be funny and I missed it. As he said in the movie Spinal Tap, "it is a fine line between clever, clever...." Anyways those who are missing and died were loved by someone.

Posted by: getajob on August 20 2008 10:25 PM

yes meeting friends does not have anything to do with the lil scumbags that are ruining or city.(Point) ..lets not assume anything that we are not sure of.

Posted by: jonnypg on August 21 2008 2:27 AM

If you read the Citizen web site they that crime is down in this city...wow can you believe that!

Posted by: downnotout on August 21 2008 9:09 AM

They had a drug problem in Chili till they started to shoot the drug dealers. Pretty soon the problem went away.

Posted by: Quaddin on August 23 2008 10:28 AM

OK Downnotout: finally someone is beginning to see the light. I wouldn't even mind paying a sniper tax. Lets say 1 cent a liter on our fuel.