Man charged following string of arsons in northern Alberta

Cold Lake RCMP has charged a man in connection to a series of arsons, including a church fire in Northern Alberta at the end of April.

RCMP, along with investigators from Alberta Forestry, Forestry Crimes Unit (FCU), and Parks and Tourism, say the charges come following an investigation that began in August 2022.

It started when several wildfires were reportedly started near Hilda Lake, Cold Lake Provincial Park, Ardmore, and Cherry Grove in August.

Through the initial stages of the investigation, the FCU ruled the cause of the fires to be suspicious and were deliberately set.

Then, the mounties responded to a fire at the Cherry Grove Rodeo Grounds in September 2022. Investigators determined a wooden platform was deliberately set on fire.

Lastly, on April 28, 2023, just before 4 a.m., fire crews and police were called to the hamlet of Cherry Grove, which is just east of Cold Lake, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was fully engulfed.

Additionally, the Municipal District of Bonnyville says mounties on the scene came across a second fire at the Cherry Grove Canada Post Office.

At the time, it was believed both fires had been deliberately set.

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Two days later, Cold Lake RCMP responded to the Hamlet of Cherry Grove again after reports that several vehicles and homes were on fire.

Since then, Mounties have charged a 29-year-old man from Cherry Grove in connection to the fires. He is facing ten charges of arson.

He remains in custody and will appear in court on May 10.