Edmonton infill builders on edge after string of suspected arsons

Anxious and confused — that’s how some builders are feeling following a string of arsons in central Edmonton.

Some say they are being vigilant and upping security in neighbourhoods like Belgravia, where police suspect homes under construction have been intentionally set ablaze.

Fire investigators believe six properties, mostly multiplexes, were intentionally set on fire within three weeks starting Oct. 18. No one has been arrested.

Edmonton homebuilders such as Sanaz Hamidi, owner of Ruby Stone Holdings, are on edge.

“It is very scary right now. I can’t sleep at night, to be honest with you,” she said.

Hamidi is doing what she can to keep her property in Belgravia secure. The house she’s building — a new home for her family — is fenced and monitored by security cameras. She installed more cameras in the days since a multiplex under construction only a few blocks away caught fire less than two weeks ago.

“We have cameras. And constantly, I look at the camera to make sure no one comes in the property. We have it secure. But again, this is not the area where you would expect these things to happen,” Hamidi said.

Edmonton police told reporters this week patrols have increased in areas with fires.

Police have also installed security cameras. There is a mobile surveillance station in Belgravia, placed after homes burned nearby.

Arson investigators are probing eight fires at under-construction homes this fall.

The first two were in the Highlands neighbourhood in September. An under-construction infill home caught fire in the early morning of Sept. 15 near 48 Street and 115 Avenue, followed by another fire early in the morning Sept. 23 near 65 Street and 111 Avenue.

The latest string of six began late October.

• Oct. 18: King Edward Park, 80 Avenue and 81 Street
• Oct. 21: Strathcona, 90 Avenue and 98 Street
• Oct. 26: Belgravia, 116 Street and 77 Avenue
• Oct. 29: Belgravia, 118A Street and 74 Avenue
• Nov. 2: Glenora, 102 Avenue and 133 Street
• Nov. 2: Belgravia, 71A Avenue and Saskatchewan Drive

Police are still investigating whether the six are connected and haven’t confirmed a motive.

Sean Sedgwick, executive director of Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA), said many builders are nervous, and also not comfortable speaking publicly about what’s happening. But they’re looking for answers.

“It’s not a good thing to have a chilling effect on building homes during a housing crisis. So I really hope that that isn’t what ultimately winds up happening. We need homes for people,” he said.

Sedgwick hopes a meeting with the fire chief and city leaders on Wednesday will lead to solutions to help builders keep their properties safe and solve this case.

–With files from Lauren Boothby