A late-evening fire in Silver Springs in Airdrie’s northwest is being considered as suspicious by officials and RCMP is investigating, according to Airdrie RCMP Constable Casondra Greene.
“We work jointly (with the Airdrie Fire Department) on all those files. Whenever there’s any kind of an arson investigation, we work jointly on them,” she said. “We don’t really know for sure at this point (if it’s arson). We’re still investigating and can’t make any comment further.”
Greene could not confirm whether bottles were found on the home’s yard.
“I can’t comment on anything at this point. We need to wait for the fire department and the investigation to proceed,” she said.
Greene was not able to comment on why the fire is considered suspicious.
The homeowner was able to get himself and his four dogs out of the home before firefighters arrived. His wife and two small children were not at home at the time.
“He said he got out when his smoke detector went off,” Deputy Fire Chief Linda Masson said. “Our crews were able to keep the fire to just the one home. The fire had gone from the second floor up into the attic space but they were able to contain it.”
Masson did not know if residents of the neighbouring homes were evacuated.
The fire brought a response from all three of Airdrie’s fire stations, with crews responding from the King’s Heights, Chinook Winds and Main Street stations. According to Masson, a fire inspector also attended. A total of four pieces of apparatus including fire engines and water tenders as well as 13 firefighters attended the fire.
The Crossfield Fire Department was put on standby in Airdrie to provide coverage while Airdrie crews fought the significant blaze.
Masson said crews were able to leave the scene by 4:12 a.m. April 14.
Mischief investigation
RCMP is investigating after staff noticed a broken second-floor window at Genesis Place Recreation Centre April 15 and called police. Upon arrival, RCMP members found a rifle bullet casing at the scene. A bullet, matching the casing, was subsequently recovered from a wall.
Greene said RCMP does not believe there to be any danger to the public.
“There’s no reason to suspect there’d be anyone in danger,” Greene said. “It’s an isolated incident.”
Greene said investigators believe the incident took place between 2 and 5 a.m.
“We think it happened at approximately that time because the cleaners were in (the building until 2 a.m.) and then it opens at 5, so sometime in between there,” she said.
The trajectory of the bullet indicates the shot came from the direction of a pathway near Highway 2 and the pedestrian crossing, according to Greene.
Greene said RCMP currently has no leads.
“If anyone saw anything, we’d like them to give us a call,” she said.
Greene did not know if there was any video surveillance being reviewed by investigators.
Anyone with information about this or any crime is asked to call Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7200 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at tipsubmit.com
