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
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.