Police in Mission say a fire that broke out in the toilet paper aisle of a Real Canadian Superstore Tuesday night has been confirmed as arson.
The Mission RCMP says officers and Mission Fire Rescue Services (MFRS) arrived at the grocery store shortly before closing time around 11 p.m.
“A fire started in the toilet paper aisle,” Mounties said.
On Wednesday, police and MFRS said the fire was “suspicious” and believed to have been “set intentionally.” In an update Thursday, the RCMP confirmed it is investigating the fire as arson.
“Although it may seem obvious that a fire in a toilet paper aisle must have been intentionally set, investigators needed time to confirm there was no other possible source of ignition, such as from an electrical fault. The investigation is ongoing, and police are continuing to review various sources of evidence.”
Assistant Fire Chief Ian Glasgow told 1130 NewsRadio that when crews first reached the scene they experienced “heavy smoke conditions in the store.”
He says employees used six fire extinguishers on the fire but weren’t able to control it. The fire then reached the top of the shelves and “eventually activated one of the sprinklers on top of the aisle, which aided in the control of the fire.”
Glasgow says fire crews would usually recommend not attempting to put out a fire like that with an extinguisher because they are typically for incipient fires.
“If the fire has left the item of fire origin, so it is extended into surrounding materials or if the fire is, let’s say, as big as a person, we would recommend not attempting to put it down,” he said.
Mounties released an image of a person of interest Wednesday, who they say has since come forward “and is cooperating with the investigation.” The RCMP has not disclosed if that person is a suspect in the arson.
Corp. Harrison Mohr said the damage is “widespread and significant throughout the store, and that it is likely to remain closed for a prolonged period.”
In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio Thursday, Loblaws, the parent company of Real Canadian Superstore, says its workers have recently been allowed back in the store and are working with local authorities to assess the damage and begin cleaning up.
“Our goal is to reopen as soon as it’s safe to do so, but at this point we can’t confirm a specific date,” the company said.
Anyone who has not yet come forward with information about the fire is asked to call the Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161.