WATCH: Police say the origins of a fast-moving fire that burned two homes in Alert Bay is suspicious.
Police are calling a fire that burned two houses Monday evening suspicious and say suspects under the age of 18 have been identified.
According to B.C. RCMP, at around 7 p.m., officers from the Alert Bay RCMP detachment were called to a structure fire in Alert Bay that fully engulfed one house and jumped to another on 2nd Street. The fire then spread to a grassy wooded area near a gravel pit. Alert Bay firefighters and local community residents attempted to contain the fire until the Port McNeill fire department arrived with a six-man crew via ferry.
No one was injured in the fire as one house was vacant and the homeowner of the other house was away at the time of the fire. Alert Bay RCMP, along with Port McNeil RCMP and Port Hardy RCMP members, determined the fire was suspicious.
In #AlertBay today after a fast moving grass fire destroyed one house and severely damaged another. #RCMP is calling it a suspicious fire. People in the area say it may have been kids playing with matches. More tonight on @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/bcyX8B04I6
— Dean Stoltz (@deanstoltzchek) March 19, 2019
Police said suspects under the age of 18 have been identified. If charges are approved, they will be under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the suspects will not be named.
RCMP Vancouver Island General Investigation Section and Forensic Identification Section are also in attendance helping the Alert Bay RCMP with the investigation.
Two houses were destroyed in a fire in Alert Bay on March 18, 2019. (BC RCMP)
CHEK News
