Local police believe a fire that destroyed a trailer near Ucluelet earlier this month was set intentionally.
The trailer was parked on West Main Forest Service Road roughly four kilometres from Highway 4 near Kennedy Lake when it burned to the ground sometime overnight between Aug. 2-3, according to Const. Marcel Midlane of the Ucluelet RCMP.
“We’re suspecting arson,” Midlane told the Westerly News.
He said there is no specific evidence linking the fire to arson but there was nothing inside the trailer that would have sparked flames.
“There could have been an ignition source inside but, in speaking with the owner, it was likely set deliberately by somebody,” he said.
He said the trailer was owned by a local who found it burned to the ground on the morning of Aug. 3 and immediately called the RCMP.
“The trailer was still smouldering a bit when we got there,” Midlane said adding the trailer was damaged well beyond repair. “It’s completely burned to the ground. There’s nothing left.”
Midlane said the trailer was related to the West Coast’s mushroom industry and no one was inside when the fire occurred.
“This was an unoccupied trailer that was left as a potential mushroom buying post,” he said. “It was left there unattended.”
Police had no suspects or witnesses at press time and anyone with any information about the fire, or saw anything suspicious in the area, is encouraged to contact the Ucluelet RCMP at 250-726-7773.