Arson suspected in 5 suspicious Abbotsford fires

Police in Abbotsford, B.C., suspect an arsonist may have set five suspicious fires over the past 48 hours.

"All five fires have started after midnight and all have been in a fairly small geographic area of central Abbotsford," said a statement issued by APD on Friday morning.

"Investigators have not determined that these fires are linked, but their proximity and the time frame in which they started is clearly troubling."

The latest two fires broke out early Friday morning. Witnesses first reported a fire at an abandoned home in the 32200 block of Hillcrest Avenue at 12:30 a.m. PT.

Then while Abbotsford Fire Rescue and Abbotsford Police Department members were attending that fire, another witness reported a second fire in the carport of a residence in the 2400 block of Adelaide Street around 2:15 am.

The family of four and their neighbours had to be evacuated while the second fire was contained, say police.

3 fires reported Wednesday morning

Three other suspicious fires were put out Wednesday morning. The most significant was at an abandoned residence in the 32000 block of Hillcrest Avenue that was reported around 3 a.m.

Then at 4:25 a.m. another fire was reported on the 32300 block of Marshall Road at a convenience store with residential suites. Alert residents were able to douse the flames. There was some damage to the building, but none of the eight persons who live at that location were injured.

A third fire was discovered during daylight hours at a financial institution in the 2500 block of Clearbrook Road. That fire did not create significant damage, say police.

"Currently the Abbotsford Police Departments major crime unit, patrol division, crime analysis unit, forensic identification unit, and fire investigators are investigating these incidents," said the statement.

"Anyone with information about these incidents should call the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or text 222973 (abbypd) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477."

Google Map: Suspicious fires in Abbotford