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