Firefighters with the Sooke Fire Department have extinguished a fire that sparked at the Sooke Shelter, located on Otter Point Road.
According to a report from the BC RCMP, police officers were called to the shelter at approximately 7:00 a.m. on Friday morning for reports of a disturbance at the shelter. Police say they were told a resident was causing issues and that an officer presence was required.
While police were heading to the scene, officers were updated that the suspect had started lighting things on fire in his living area.
When RCMP arrived at the shelter, smoke could be seen coming from inside.
An evacuation of the building was carried out and all residents made it out of the building unharmed, however, the suspect who lit the fires had fled the scene.
This was a pretty dynamic and changing situation for the members involved. They were initially called to a disturbance, arrived to see smoke, and transitioned immediately to evacuating residents from the facility
says Sooke Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Brett Sinden. It was very fortunate that no one was injured, either staff residents or officers.
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The Sooke Fire Department was able to attend the scene as well and deal with the incident, extinguishing any flames.
A search for the suspect began and he was located a short time later on a BC Transit bus departing Sooke.
He was arrested for arson and taken into custody without incident.
The man, a 42-year-old from Sooke, remains in custody at this time.
“The Sooke RCMP wish to thank the Sooke Fire Department, the staff of the Sooke Shelter and the many local residents who assisted with the investigation, and evacuation,” reads a statement from Sinden.
The structure did not sustain any significant damage.
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