Fort Saskatchewan woman charged with arson following daycare, dental office blaze
A 33-year-old woman is facing four counts of arson after a series of fires in Fort Saskatchewan.
Last August, a commercial building on 104 Street and 99 Avenue in that city was destroyed by fire. It contained both a daycare and dental clinic. No injuries were reported.
In September, Mounties said a series of fires involving an outhouse, a washroom building in RCMP Park and several garbage bins were possibly related to the August blaze.
Then on Feb. 5, emergency crews responded to six dumpsters on fire in central Fort Saskatchewan.
"During the investigation, RCMP were able to obtain video surveillance and successfully identified and arrested a suspect," Cpl. Troy Savinkoff wrote in a Wednesday news release.
"Continued investigation has linked the suspect to the Aug. 14 arson of a daycare and dental office."
Police said the video clearly showed the way she lit the dumpster fire, which led them to link her to the building blaze.
"It’s shocking, because I never thought they’d find someone. It just seemed so random," said Carol Kaehn who lives in the area and watched the businesses burn.
The building has since been demolished.
Locals said there was also an abandoned house fire in the area just days before the dumpsters were lit. An RCMP inspector said Thursday they are still working to determine the cause of that fire.
The accused is also facing a breach of probation charge and was initially remanded in custody.
She was scheduled to appear in Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Court again on Feb. 23.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.