AT approximately 6:09 p.m. on Friday, Abbotsford Police patrol officers responded to a report of a fire at the Peardonville homeless encampment located on provincial land in the 31500-block of South Fraser Way.

Officers secured the scene and determined the fire was limited to a single wooden structure. Following fire suppression efforts by Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service, a man was found dead.

Police said that further investigation has confirmed this incident to be a homicide. One man has been arrested and remains in police custody.

The investigation is ongoing and remains in the early stages, with additional resources supporting efforts to fully understand the circumstances involved. Abbotsford Police said they can confirm this was an isolated and targeted incident and the public is not at risk.

The Abbotsford Police Department’s Major Crime Unit is transitioning the investigation to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the IHIT Infoline at 1-877-551-4448.