Fire broke out at the Millstream Manor in the 100 block of Prideaux St. early Sunday morning, after a number of vehicles were reportedly set ablaze. (Nanaimo RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

suspicious fire

Nanaimo Mounties seeking ‘person of interest’ after suspicious Sunday fire

Mar 31, 2025 | 10:43 AM

NANAIMO — Local police are trying to identify a person seen running away from an apartment building shortly before a fire broke out over the weekend.

Emergency crews were called to an apartment complex at 42 Prideaux St., just before 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 30 after several cars and the apartment building caught fire.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW it was quite a significant blaze.

“It appears it started in the area of the carport of that building. We don’t have a lot to go on at this point, what we know is that an individual was seen leaving the area, that person is a person of interest.”

Witnesses who saw the individual running away said they appeared to be Caucasian with a thin to medium build, young, potentially a teenager, and was wearing a large, Army-green coloured puffy jacket with black patches on the sleeves and black pants.

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O’Brien said the area in question was not covered by security camera footage, but they are canvassing neighbouring properties to try and track down the person.

At least three or four vehicles sustained significant damage from the fire.

No injuries were reported.

O’Brien wouldn’t speak to any potential ignition of the fire at this point, saying their focus is solely on the individual.

“There was a person seen leaving the area at a rapid rate of speed. Why that person was leaving, we’re not sure but we’re certainly declaring that person a person of interest.”

Anyone with information on the fire, or the individual described, is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.

Residents were forced to evacuate the building early Sunday morning. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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