Arson caught on camera

Surveillance footage clearly shows a fire that destroyed several vehicles and damaged an apartment building early Wednesday morning was intentionally started.

The fire began at about 4:20 a.m. in the carport of the Roth Towers Apartments, on Pandosy Street near Sutherland Avenue, and spread to the building. The apartment was quickly evacuated as fire crews battled the fast-spreading blaze.

Nine vehicles were completely destroyed in the fire, and 11 others were damaged, while one of the apartment's balconies caught fire and several windows cracked due to heat.

Security footage from inside the carport, released Thursday by police, shows a person on a bicycle starting the fire, before quickly pedalling away.

“A full review of the footage has enabled police to deem the blaze an arson,” Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey of the Kelowna RCMP said in a release.

The person on the bicycle appears to be wearing a jacket with a light-coloured panel across the back.

Police believe the arsonist used some type of accelerant to start the fire, due to the aggressive spread of the blaze as soon as it's lit.

“RCMP ask all gas stations in the surrounding areas of this fire scene to conduct a review of their transactions in the hours leading up to the massive blaze,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “We are particularly interested in any smaller point of sale purchases, especially those to an individual or individuals who attended the store on foot or on bicycle.”

Police have asked anyone with information about the fire to contact Const. Nathan Nickel of the Kelowna RCMP General Investigation Section at 250-470-6261, or 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.