Teen Arrested for Arson in $2 Million Victoria Street Blaze

Investigators allege that a 16-year-old drove a stolen car into a convenience store on Victoria Street, straddling Abbotsford and Richmond, before igniting the premises on the morning of July 6. The fire quickly engulfed adjacent retailers, causing two female occupants to flee and resulting in extensive damage estimated at $2 million. Fire Rescue Victoria deployed 80 firefighters, who spent roughly an hour and a half containing the flames, and confirmed that as many as ten businesses were affected.

Police initially reported that the suspects escaped on foot, and the area was sealed off for most of the day, preventing shop owners from accessing their properties. Today, detectives arrested the teenager and filed charges of arson, reckless conduct endangering life and car theft; he has been remanded in custody awaiting a hearing in a children’s court.