Police investigating if fire at new home in Beaumont is arson
Posted January 16, 2024 5:23 pm.
Last Updated January 16, 2024 7:36 pm.
A newly built home in Beaumont went up in flames early Tuesday morning, the second blaze in the same neighbourhood within a month.
Fire officials tell CityNews the home is a total loss and a neighbouring home was damaged. There were no injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. RCMP say they have not determined if the cause was arson.
An unoccupied show home by the same builder, Active Homes, went up in flames Dec. 14. RCMP officials tell CityNews that fire is believed to be an arson.
They say they are aware of the extortion investigations in Edmonton linked to under-construction homes going up in flames, but could not comment on potential ties to those EPS investigations.
CityNews spoke to several residents who say they are afraid for their safety and worried about their own homes.
One resident says as they were leaving for work, they could smell “wood smoke.” They looked around and saw smoke billowing, and then called 911.
Firefighters were contacted around 6:15 a.m.
Neighbours say builders in the area have security monitoring the area of new developments overnight.
