Suspect charged with arson after fires on Kelowna’s Knox Mountain

A wildfire on Knox Mountain in Kelowna, B.C., is seen on Friday, Oct. 24. (Courtesy: Castanet)

A suspect has been arrested and charged after a series of fires were set in a Kelowna, B.C., park last week, Mounties announced Tuesday.

The accused, 48-year-old Robert Austin Teal, was charged with arson and assaulting a peace officer with a weapon in relation to the Friday fires on Knox Mountain, which “posed a significant threat to public safety and property,” police said.

Around 3 p.m. that day, the Kelowna RCMP received a report of “a male dressed in full camouflage using a slingshot to target construction workers and surveillance equipment” near the base of the mountain, located just north of the city’s downtown.

“Shortly after, witnesses observed this suspect lighting fires and attempting to spread flames using vegetation. Due to dry conditions and shifting winds, the fires spread rapidly which put the numerous hikers, bikers and residents in the area at risk,” the detachment wrote in a statement.

“The Kelowna Fire Department alongside RCMP officers, responded swiftly to the scene and observed that the size of the fire had grown large enough causing concern with its ability to escalate into a larger forest fire.”

Firefighters were ultimately able to extinguish the blazes and Mounties quickly tracked down the suspect.

Teal appeared in court on Saturday and was ordered to remain in custody. His next appearance is scheduled for Thursday.

Police asked anyone with information or video to call the Kelowna detachment at 250-762-3300 or provide an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.