Update:
On Friday, July 2, Lac La Biche RCMP announced that they have charged Jarred Lee Atkinson, 38, with break and enter with intent to commit arson and a formal charge of arson in connection to a downtown blaze on Monday, June 28. The fire destroyed a building that contained an upstairs apartment residence, a downtown storage room as well as vehicles held in an outside compound. The fire also damaged adjacent buildings.
No one was injured in the blaze.
Lac La Biche RCMP say Atkinson has no fixed address.
Following a judicial hearing, he was released from custody and is scheduled to be in Lac La Biche Provincial court on August 5.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, and continue to urge community members with any further evidence to contact the local detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
Original story — After a full day combing through the debris and charred remains of a two-storey downtown building gutted by fire on Monday night fire officials and police have opened an arson investigation.
Fire officials and the RCMP say the cause of the fire that destroyed a downstairs storage facility, and an upstairs residence, an outbuilding vehicles stored in an outside compound had several factors that need further investigation.
“Yes – suspicious – due to the rapid growth of the fire from when first reported until first arriving crews on scene,” said Lac La Biche County’s Manager of Protective Services and Regional Fire Chief John Kokotilo.
The fire was first reported at 7:25 pm on Monday, June 28 at a building on 101 Street just south of Lac Lac La Biche’s Main Street. When the first fire crews arrived on the scene just a few minutes later, much of the outer walls at the back of the building were fully engulfed. The fire had already destroyed a parked motorboat, a van and pickup truck parked behind the building.
Firefighters from Lac La Biche, Plamondon, Hylo and Owl River firehalls responded to the scene, along with Community Peace Officers and local RCMP.
In addition to the quick start of the fire, the building — a small structure in the middle of a linked row of buildings built more than 60 years ago — was constructed with highly flammable materials and covered with a metal roof.
“The fire was difficult to extinguish due to building materials used – wood shaving insulation … plank interior walls and a metal sheathed roof,” said the fire chief, explaining that a total demolition of the building was needed to properly extinguish the fire. “Due to the metal roof – the fire had “no way to go” so it continued to burn within the interior until we were able to get a track hoe to rip out the walls and open the roof.”
The fire, along with demolition of the building forced emergency officials to cordon off a large are of the downtown area. Some witnesses said they heard the sound of explosions as firefighters first worked on the outside of the building, but Kokotilo said there were no actual explosions reported.
“There was “popping” but no major explosion. The noises most likely occurred from materials in the storage sheds and possibly tires on the vehicles exploding,” he said.
Contributed Video by Neil Timm / Lac La Biche
Once firefighters were able to isolate areas of the structure, they determined there was no one in the upstairs apartment at the time of the blaze.
Despite the quick response that resulted in most of the damage isolated to the one building, neighbouring properties did suffer damage as a result of the fire. A hair salon directly beside the fire suffered significant smoke and water damage. Several other businesses were reporting lingering smoke affects.
Firefighters and emergency crews remained on the scene until 4 am Tuesday morning. Later that day, with much of the block around the gutted building still blocked to public access, fire investigators conducted their review.
Lac La Biche RCMP are continuing to work with the fire investigator and are collecting evidence for the arson investigation, says Lac La Biche RCMP Staff Sgt. Charles Brown.
RCMP are working with Fire inspector,” Brown told Lakelandtoday.ca, urging anyone with information, video surveillance or witness details to contact the local detachment. “RCMP are seeking the assistance of the general public in obtaining information.”
