FILE PHOTO: This March 9, 2018 fire left the corner of an attached garage on Warner Avenue scorched.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

ARMSTRONG - Police have a 60-year-old woman in custody after a keen eye witness helped to identify the alleged arsonist.

Just before 9 p.m. on March 12, RCMP officers were dispatched to assist the Armstrong Fire Department with two suspected arsons, both located in the 3000 block of Okanagan Street in Armstrong, RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett says in a release.

Police responded and found a set of tires had been lit on fire beside a garage at one home and a back deck at another home located down the street. Both fires were extinguished prior to extensive damage being done, Brett says.

While responding to those fires, police quickly learned that another alleged arson had just occurred in the 2200 block of Okanagan Street where the suspect attempted to light two cars on fire and fled the area, Brett says.

"It was the quick thinking of a local resident who observed a suspicious person in the area and was able to provide a detailed description of the suspect and vehicle details,"  Brett says.

Officers attended to the area and were able to locate and arrest the suspect thanks to the eyewitness observations made.

Between March 8 and March 12 six suspicious fires were reported in the Armstrong area with varying levels of reported damaged. No one was injured as a result of any of the fires.

"The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP major crime unit and the Forensic Identification Section are currently engaged in all six investigations," Brett says. "Although an arrest has been made, the investigation is in the early stages. The fires are believed to be incendiary in nature and are therefore being treated as arson."

The 60 year old Armstrong woman remains in custody and is facing possible charges of arson in relation to the recent fires.

One home on Warner Avenue was badly damaged last week, while another homeowner was able to catch the flames before they spread. 

If you have any information about any of these fires contact the Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP at 250-545-7171. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online. You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers and if you provide information that leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.

— This story was updated at 11 a.m. March 13, 2018 to add information about the arrest. 

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