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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.