Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Mounties have issued a public appeal for information as they try to solve a multi-million dollar arson in Virden.
RCMP Cpl. Miles Hiebert said the appeal doesn’t mean that investigators have hit a standstill in the case.
“It’s a common practice to appeal to the public for information in this type of an investigation,” Hiebert said. “We don’t want to leave any stone unturned.”
When firefighters arrived around 4 a.m. on Sept. 9, they found the True Value Hardware building on fire and a seniors’ fourplex next door beginning to burn.
Firefighters focused their efforts on the seniors’ residence and all five residents of the fourplex escaped unharmed, although the building couldn’t be saved.
The fire at the hardware store and fourplex was one of the area’s biggest in recent years.
At the same time, there was a second fire at the Bargain Store a block away.
Within days, police announced that the hardware/fourplex fire was arson, with damage estimated at more than $2.5 million.
Police haven’t revealed how the fire was set.
RCMP, including its major crimes unit, and the Office of the Fire Commissioner continue to investigate but so far there have been no arrests or charges.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Virden RCMP at 204-748-2046.
They can also leave anonymous tips by dialing Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can be made online at manitobacrimestoppers.com or text TIPMAN plus your message to CRIMES (274637).
Hiebert said no detail is too small to report — whether it’s something a citizen may have seen around the time of the fire, or even a rumour that they’ve heard.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition September 22, 2012
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Mounties have issued a public appeal for information as they try to solve a multi-million dollar arson in Virden.
RCMP Cpl. Miles Hiebert said the appeal doesn’t mean that investigators have hit a standstill in the case.
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Mounties have issued a public appeal for information as they try to solve a multi-million dollar arson in Virden.
RCMP Cpl. Miles Hiebert said the appeal doesn’t mean that investigators have hit a standstill in the case.
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