West Shore RCMP seek witnesses in suspicious brush fire
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Thu, 05 Sep 2019 20:13:44 +0000
Police in Greater Victoria are looking for two witnesses to a suspicious brush fire that was extinguished Wednesday on a popular hiking trail near a hospital.
The fire was first reported around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, located on the Galloping Goose Trail behind Victoria General Hospital, just south of the Helmcken Road overpass in View Royal.
While firefighters were able to put out the fire, investigators say the fire grew rapidly and could have quickly affected residents nearby.
Police and fire investigators are now treating the blaze as a suspicious incident.
Const. Nancy Saggar with West Shore RCMP said police are seeking two men in the area who were spotted trying to put out the fire. Investigators are hoping the men will come forward to speak with police .
“We have received information that there were two males in their early 20s on BMX bicycles who appeared to be trying to put out the fire,” said Saggar.
“These males left the scene prior to police arrival. We are asking these males to come forward and speak to police as they may have information regarding the fire investigation.”
Both are described as white men in their early 20s who rode BMX bikes. One wore a blue shirt and one had a neon yellow bag strapped to his back.
The pair was last seen riding westbound on the Galloping Goose Trail away from the fire.
Anyone with information about the fire or the two men is asked to contact police at 250-474-2264.