A fire at Burnaby hospital that caused serious damage and contributed to a deadly COVID-19 outbreak was deliberately set, according to police.
“After a thorough examination of this extensive scene, the Burnaby RCMP fire investigators have determined this fire was a deliberate act of arson,” stated a news release Thursday.
Burnaby RCMP have now set up a dedicated witness phone line (604-646-9522) and email ([email protected]) to gather leads.
They are urging all staff who were working at the hospital on Nov. 15 who may have seen anyone or anything suspicious or unusual to come forward and speak to police.
Any member of the public with information related to the fire is also asked come forward.
“You might think your observation is minor or unimportant, but it might be the piece of information that our investigators need,” said Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Mike Kalanj. “We are asking for your help.”
Burnaby RCMP have released a photo of one person investigators would particularly like to speak with.
“The person in the photo is not a suspect,” states the release. “If you recognize the person in the photo or you recognize yourself as the person in the photo, please contact the Burnaby RCMP via the telephone number or email provided … We ask that you leave your full name and contact information so we can speak to you directly.”
The north wing of the hospital sustained extensive damage during and forced the evacuation of patients and staff.
Firefighters were called to the hospital shortly after 10 p.m.
Many patients inside had been evacuated to the south side by staff, according to assistant fire Chief Dave Younger.
“They took the ball and were running with it before we got there. They did a beautiful job,” he said at the time. “They had people in all the hallways and shoved into all over the place is what I’m told.”
Later, health officials would say the fire contributed to the spread of an active outbreak at the hospital that had been declared on Nov. 9.
Before that outbreak was declared over on Dec. 11, 60 patients and 43 staff had tested positive and 10 people had died.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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