Remnants of a minor purposely set fire at Forest Glen Manor on Wellington Rd. on the evening of Thursday, Oct, 22. Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O'Brien called a pair of recent deliberately set fires at the apartment building troubling. (Jeremy Stewart)

By Ian Holmes

arson investigations

Nanaimo RCMP investigating 2 purposely set fires in same apartment building

Oct 27, 2020 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — Police are trying to solve a pair of smouldering fires in common areas of a Wellington Rd. apartment building.

RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW papers were set ablaze in stairwells at opposite ends of the building late on Thursday, Oct. 22 and again on Saturday afternoon.

He said only minor damage resulted, due in large part fast-acting tenants.

“In one fire they used a fire extinguisher, another one they dumped some water on it. It could have caused extensive damage if not dealt with quick enough,” O’Brien said.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue responded to both incidents at Forest Glen Manor, which are now under police investigation.

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O’Brien said police are following up on a tip received from the most recent fire.

“One of the tenants heard people running down the hall shortly after the fire happened. No description, they sounded to be younger in age, but that’s all that we have at this point.”

Forest Glen Manor’s management pledged to increase security and strived to ensure their exterior doors are no longer left propped open, O’Brien said.

Resident Jeremy Stewart said it has been an unsettling time.

“It is concerning, especially with children and elderly in the building,” Stewart said.

Both fires forced the building’s residents to briefly evacuate.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes