Athabasca RCMP have arrested and charged a man with arson after a house fire destroyed a home south of Athabasca Nov. 2.
The identity of the man, who was arrested on the same day as the fire, was not released by RCMP. No court appearance date has yet been set for the suspect.
Cpl. Chris Warren, an RCMP media relations official, said further details could not be released at this time.
“All we can say right now is there is an adult male in custody who has been charged with arson,” Warren said.
The fire, which occurred in the Colinton area off of Range Road 223, completely destroyed the home, according to Warren. He added that nobody was hurt in the fire.
“The house was fully engulfed in flames and obviously the damage is very extensive,” he said.
Along with the Athabasca RCMP, the Athabasca Fire Department, Athabasca County peace officer and EMS services were also dispatched to the scene, Warren said.
A GoFundMe campaign has begun in connection with the fire, which said the burned home belonged to area resident Barb Ross. The campaign has raised $2,230 of its $10,000 goal as of Nov. 5.
Kelsie Nicole, the daughter of Barb Ross, started the GoFundMe campaign and said her mother has been left with virtually nothing as a result of the fire.
“My mother’s house was burnt to the ground and she was left with only the clothing on her back,” Nicole said on the GoFundMe page. “There was nothing to salvage and she will have to rebuild.”
Neither Barb Ross nor Kelsie Nicole could be reached for additional comment before publish time.
The GoFundMe page can be reached at www.gofundme.com/burnt-house-send-help.
