West Shore RCMP officers have arrested a suspected arsonist after a youth reportedly started a fire along the Galloping Goose Trail in View Royal.
According to a police report issued on Wednesday, officers received a report from another user of the trail, who witnessed a male youth start a fire on August 16.
Police said that the trail user told the suspect to put out the fire, but he left the scene instead with the flames still ignited.
Authorities from the View Royal Fire Department arrived quickly and were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread. Crews are suggesting, however, that due to the fire’s proximity to foliage on either side – and with the recently dry weather – the fire had the potential to spread quickly to nearby homes.
West Shore RCMP also arrived on scene shortly after the report and witnesses were able to provide a description of the suspect.
Officers located the 17-year-old nearby and made the arrest. He was held in custody and appeared in court on August 17.
According to West Shore RCMP, the youth suspect has since been charged with mischief.
We want to thank the witness for acting quickly and calling for help. The witnesses also tried to put out the fire themselves before help arrived but the fire proved to be too large to extinguish without help from View Royal Fire Dept,
said Cst. Nancy Saggar, West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer.
Graham Cox
