Kelowna arson could have been deadly

There have been a series of arson fires in Kelowna over the past week, but the latest takes on a new and frightening tone.

The arsonist struck at 3:00 a.m. Monday when the woman inside the house was sleeping.

Fortunately, the flames didn’t spread too far.

Under the cover of the early morning darkness, an arsonist used an accelerant to try to set a house on fire on Graeme road in Kelowna’s Rutland neighbourhood.

An entrance door and part of the outside wall were scorched before the woman inside the home smelled smoke and called the fire department.

Police believe the deliberately set fire is the result of an on-going domestic dispute between the victim and her ex-spouse.

Constable Steve Holmes of the Kelowna R.C.M.P. said ” the woman was living in this place as the result of issues that had occured in the relationship. However this person was able to find out where she was and is alleged to have done this.”

Police are now seeking an arrest warrant for a 44 year old man, and his ex-spouse has been moved to a safer location.