The suspect in a number of recent arsons in Mission is still at large, after prompting road closures and a precautionary evacuation of nearby homes on Thursday, according to police.
One of the properties deliberately set ablaze, 30819 Gunn Avenue, was the site of a 2020 homicide, but Mission RCMP did not address that in a news release about the “active and ongoing” situation.
Mounties said Mission Fire Rescue Service responded to a fire at that Gunn Avenue address just before 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Officers believe it was vacant at the time.
At 7 a.m. Thursday, Mission RCMP and the fire department were called to a second property on Gunn Avenue, and found multiple parts of it were intentionally set ablaze.
Due to “considerable possible safety risks” all emergency responders were forced to keep away from the burning structures, RCMP added in their Thursday update.
Get daily BC news
Police said one man has been identified as the suspect and is still believed to still be on the large rural property. There is no indication that there is anyone else on the property, they added.
“This has been a challenging situation, with significant safety risks to all first responders,” said Cpl. Harrison Mohr in the release. “Our officers are working diligently to try to bring about a peaceful resolution to this matter.”
It is not known if anyone has been injured.
Nearby resident Leagh Shandler told Global News he was asked to leave his home around 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
He said he was feeling a little stressed because he was waiting for a doctor’s phone call when the police knocked on his door. Shandler added that he doesn’t know the person who lives on the property but he did meet him about a year ago.
In a statement late Thursday night, police said they have scaled back their presence in the area, giving the green light to residents to return home.
Police say the fires have been put out and they no longer believe a threat exists to anyone on or around the property; however, Gunn Avenue remains closed to anyone other than locals.
Mission RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit has taken over the investigation and they will remain on scene in the coming days.
In the statement, Mission RCMP thanks the community for their patience, saying there is no ongoing risk to the public.
The first address set on fire — 30819 Gunn Avenue — was the site of a homicide and arson investigation in 2020. A person’s body was found inside the home after the fire was extinguished.
The remains of Vien Ngoc Bui, 64, were later identified and Van Chau Nguyen, 60, was charged with first-degree murder.
This is a developing situation, more to come.