Gary McKenna
The Tri-City News
A Port Coquitlam home that was the scene of a targeted shooting last month went up in flames early Tuesday morning.
The blaze, which happened in the 2400-block of Kelly Avenue, is one of two fires that occurred over the course of the evening that investigators believe may have been deliberately set.
"It was pretty intense," said PoCo Fire Chief Nick Delmonico. "We were definitely hampered because we had crews on scene at the other fire."
The first fire of the night occurred at around 11 p.m. Monday at a home in the 2500-block of Larkin Avenue, where flames broke out in multiple locations. Delmonico said the fire was so hot that it scorched the siding of a nearby home.
"The arson squad is on the scene," he said. "Anytime you get more than one ignition point, it looks a bit suspicious."
Flames ignited at several points around the house before moving up the walls and spreading into the attic. Delmonico said that it was unclear how many people were living in the home but several people were leaving the property with their belongings when crews arrived.
Because firefighters were able to arrive quickly, he added, they were able to keep the flames from spreading to nearby buildings.
Crews were still mopping up the Larkin Avenue fire when the second call came in for the fire on Kelly Avenue at around 4 a.m. Tuesday. By the time firefighters arrived, the home was fully engulfed.
Delmonico said the flames were fuelled by a gas line that was broken and may have been tampered with.
Trevor Holloran, who has lived on Kelly Avenue for two years, said police have visited the home numerous times over the last few months.
"There were a lot of people in there," he said. "We have had problems with this house for a long time."
While police said the property is considered vacant, there were 10 to 12 occupants and a black Hummer parked in front of the home when it was shot at in the early morning hours of Nov. 13. Nobody was hurt and police said the occupants refused to cooperate with investigators.
The home is one of three residences on the street that are slated for demolition to make way for a new apartment building.
Coun. Darrell Penner, chair of the city's community safety committee, said he was not aware of any incidents involving the Kelly Avenue home but noted that property owners are responsible for the condition of their property and that the city has billed people for these kinds of issues in the past.
"It can take time to put a case together," he said, "but it has been done with other properties. If we have to board up windows, if we have to hire security, then the security costs go to the property owner."
Coquitlam RCMP are asking anyone with any information about either blaze to contact investigators at 604-945-1550. Those who wish to provide information anonymously can do so by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by going to www.solvecrime.ca.
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