Grande Prairie RCMP believe a string of fires in the Highland Park area early Sunday morning were deliberately set. The fire department was first sent to a vehicle fire that had spread to a home in the area of 90 Avenue and 99 Street around 3 a.m.
A witness saw the fire and called 9-1-1. People were inside the house at the time but were all able to make it out safely. No one was in the vehicle when it caught fire.
Police say shortly after the fires had been out, officers and firefighters noticed a second house fire a block away in the area of 91 Avenue and 99 Street. Flames had broken out in an empty home that was under renovations, but they also spread to the house next door. The owner of that home says a family of six lives there, but they all made it out safely and are staying with family.
Both the Grande Prairie Fire Department and RCMP are investigating the cause of the fires, but they both appear to be arson. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police detachment or Crime Stoppers to stay anonymous.
