One woman is in police custody after a fire that investigators say may have been deliberately set ripped through a Port Coquitlam home Sunday night.
PoCo Fire Chief Nick Delmonico told The Tri-City News when crews arrived at the Westminster Avenue home, they had to forcibly remove the woman from the building after she refused to leave on her own.
"We had to search for her and we found her on the bottom floor," he said. "She wasn't interested in leaving the structure."
To get to the woman, crews had to break down the front door, which was locked when firefighters arrived. The women's husband was able to escape the home with only minor injuries.
Delmonico said several fires were set in various parts of the home; the two largest blazes were started in upstairs bedrooms and were responsible for the bulk of the damage.
"It appears the fire was intentionally set," he said. "We can't say for sure because the investigation is not finished."
Estimates of the cost of the damage were not available but Delmonico said it would be a while before anyone is able to move back in.
Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said the woman involved in the incident has been hospitalized. Investigators are still looking into the case but will need to hear from doctors and other witnesses before they consider laying any charges.
He added that neither the woman nor her husband sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of the fire.
According to BC Assessment, the two-storey, 2,500 sq. ft. home was built in 1968 and its most recently assessed value is $490,500.
