Blaze that damaged or burned up to 20 cars deliberately set

A fire that damaged several parked vehicles early Wednesday morning is considered arson, police have determined.

Kelowna RCMP were called to assist the Kelowna Fire Department, which responded to a report of multiple vehicles on fire outside an apartment building in the 1900 block of Pandosy Street at 4:20 a.m.

Police assisted with the evacuation of the building, which was being threatened by the fast-spreading fire, said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.

The fire, which spread to the carport structure, caused heat damage to as many as 11 vehicles and destroyed nine others.

Video surveillance footage from the scene has led police to deem the blaze arson.

The video clip shows an unknown person igniting the blaze. The video then shows the suspect fleeing on a bicycle immediately after a parked vehicle erupts into flames.

“The fire is aggressive and quickly spreads even before the cyclist can pedal out of view of the camera,” said O’Donaghey.

Police have reason to believe an accelerant was used by the suspect, said O’Donaghey.

Investigators are asking all gas stations in the surrounding areas to review their transactions in the hours leading up to the blaze.

“We are particularly interested in any smaller point-of-sale purchases, especially those to an individual or individuals who attended the store on foot or on bicycle,” said O’Donaghey.

Anyone with information is asked to call Const. Nathan Nickel of the Kelowna RCMP at 250-4706261 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 to remain anonymous.