Woman sets fires in Beacon Hill Park, tries to steal van, breaks into suite

Victoria police are thanking members of the public who “likely prevented disaster” by putting out a number of small fires in Beacon Hill Park while officers looked for the woman believed to have set them.

Officers were called to the park about 5:30 p.m. Sunday in response to a report that a woman was using a small torch to light sections of grass on fire.

People who saw what the woman was doing followed her and extinguished the flames before they could spread.

The city is under an “extreme” fire-danger rating.

The first officer to arrive in the area found the suspect near a van on Simcoe Street and recognized her as being wanted on a warrant from Duncan. When he tried to arrest her, she fought him and leapt into the vehicle, which did not belong to her.

While still fighting, she was able to start the van and tried to drive away. The officer called for more police units and the van was eventually secured, but the woman was able to flee.

Officers were then flagged down by a Douglas Street resident who had fled from a suite that the woman had broken into.

The resident said the woman had taken clothes from the bedroom and was taking a shower.

Police entered the suite and arrested the woman without further incident.

She is facing charges related to arson, breaking-and-entering, attempted theft of a motor vehicle, flight from police and resisting arrest.