Mounties are asking the public for help identifying a suspect after a series of fires were allegedly set intentionally in West Kelowna over the weekend. Firefighters were first called to extinguish a suspicious fire in a porta-potty at a park in the 3100 block of Shannon Lake Road at 4:25 a.m. Saturday, according to police. Another fire was set at a gazebo in the park, but it had already been extinguished by passersby. Police say the porta-potty fire began spreading to a nearby building, but it was thankfully brought under control. Not long later, another fire was lit in the grass along Old Okanagan Highway, which firefighters quickly extinguished. Investigators believe the incidents are connected and are asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area to contact police. The witnesses who put out the gazebo fire told police they saw a “suspicious male” walking away from the area, according to a news release from the West Kelowna RCMP. Police say the suspect was tall, wearing dark clothing and had what the witnesses described as “weird hair.” “Fortunately, these fires were detected and extinguished quickly before causing significant damage,” said Cpl. Devon Gerrits, in the release “We are asking anyone who may have information about these incidents to come forward and assist investigators.” Fire chief Jason Brolund told Castanet picnic tables, garbage bins and clothes were also set alight in the park, and spread to the trees next to homes. “Obviously these fires didn’t need to happen. They take us away from responding to other incidents at the same time or being prepared for other calls that may come in,” he said. “We don’t want to see this at any time of year, but obviously with the conditions being what they are, we’re heightened.” The West Kelowna RCMP can be reached at 250-768-2880. The file number for the incident is 2026-45206.
