RCMP Investigation – TMX Equipment Fire

Date: May 21, 2020

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch / Agency: RCMP

Issue: On May 20, 2020, Western Standard published an article entitled “EXCLUSIVE: RCMP investigating arson fire that destroyed TMX equipment” related to a fire that was reported to RCMP on May 19, 2020.

Proposed Response:

Background:

Merritt RCMP is investigating after a piece of heavy equipment on a Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) Project site near Merritt, British Columbia was the target of an act of vandalism and theft one day, and the subject of a suspicious blaze on another day.

On May 19, 2020 during the early morning hours, Merritt RCMP received a report of a suspicious vehicle fire, after crews discovered a blue Peterbuilt rope truck had burned. The blaze resulted in a total loss of the truck. The same commercial vehicle was targeted in an act of mischief and a theft of fuel earlier in the weekend.

The fire scene had been secured by Merritt RCMP, for a full examination completed by forensic specialists and fire investigators with the RCMP Southeast District General Investigation Section. RCMP has since learned that there were individuals camping over the weekend in the immediate area of the impacted vehicle. GIS investigators are seeking to identify those campers, as they may hold key information.

An investigation is ongoing, and at present it is unknown whether the acts were targeted in nature or simply crimes of opportunity.

Contacts:

Approved by: Brian Brennan, Deputy Commissioner, Contract and Indigenous Policing, RCMP; 613-843-4632

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