SHORTLY before 6 p.m. on October 4, Mission RCMP and the Mission Fire Rescue Service responded to a report of a structure fire at 30819 Gunn Avenue, which is believed to have been a vacant property.  First responders arrived to find several buildings on the property on fire, with indications that the fires had been intentionally set.

At 7 a.m. on Thursday, Mission RCMP and the fire department were called to a different property on Gunn Avenue for another structure fire.  Investigators arrived to find that multiple areas of that property appeared to have been intentionally set ablaze, however, due to considerable possible safety risks to all emergency responders, police and fire personnel were forced to keep away from the burning structures.

RCMP said that a male has been identified as the suspect, and is believed to still be on the large rural property.  There is no indication that there is anyone else on the property.  The Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team was called in, and residents in neighbouring houses were evacuated as a precaution.

“This has been a challenging situation, with significant safety risks to all first responders” said Cpl. Harrison Mohr.  “Our officers are working diligently to try to bring about a peaceful resolution to this matter.”

As of the time of this release (3:57 p.m. on Thursday), the situation was still active and ongoing. The public is asked to stay away from the area, and not to share the locations of emergency responders over social media.  The Mission RCMP thanked the residents in the area for their patience.

UPDATE:

At 11:40 p.m., Mission RCMP released the following statement:

“The police presence at a high-risk incident that occurred throughout the day at a property on Gunn Avenue in Mission has now been scaled back, and the fires on the property have been put out. Police no longer believe there is a threat to anyone on or around the property, and neighbouring residents have since been able to return home. Gunn Avenue remains closed to anyone other than local residents. Mission RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit has now taken conduct of the arson investigation, and investigators will remain on scene in the coming days. No one was taken into custody and there is no ongoing risk to the public. Mission RCMP thank the community for their patience and understanding.”