Yesterday, the Abbotsford Police Department arrested 20 year old Colby Drew Jandrew in relation to the spree of fires that took place in a 48 hour period in central Abbotsford. Jandrew is expected to appear in court today and has been charged with 4 counts of Arson and 1 count of Public Mischief.
These fires created a great deal of concern for the community, especially in the affected areas and neighbourhoods. However, citizens and businesses played an integral role in this investigation by diligently working with APD officers and reporting suspicious activities throughout.
The Abbotsford Police Department wishes to thank all partner agencies, businesses and individuals who worked to elevate public safety during this challenging period.
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04/24/2014. The Abbotsford Police Department’s investigation into the 5 suspicious fires which occurred April 16-18, 2014 is continuing. Major Crime detectives, Forensic Identification Unit members and Patrol Division officers are still diligently working on gathering information and evidence.
Today, in the early morning hours, 3 suspicious fires occurred in the neighbouring jurisdiction of Mission. Investigators do not believe that these fires are connected to the Abbotsford incidents.
We continue to ask that residents in central Abbotsford report suspicious activity and persons.
Citizens should immediately report any thefts that involve materials or containers that could be used to start a fire. Finally, we request that if anyone locates discarded materials such as accelerant containers they contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or text 222973 (abbypd).
4/18/2014 10:02 – Two fires one on Hillcrest which occurred around 1:00 am and a second on Adelaide St which occurred about one hour later were captured on camera by Abbotsford Today contributor Lilly Kaetler.
Kaetler says there was a family at home at the time of the fire on Adelaide St. The Abbotsford Fire Department was just around the corner and arrived on the scene quickly, Kaetler says. There was a car in the carport which, luckily, didn’t catch fire or explode.
Cover Image: Adelaide St fire
4/18/2014 09.02 – Two more suspicious fires occurred today. Witnesses reported a fire at an abandoned home in the 32200 block of Hillcrest Avenue at 12:30 am. While Abbotsford Fire Rescue and Abbotsford Police Department members were still on scene at that location, another witness reported a second fire at a residence in the 2400 block of Adelaide Street. This second fire was observed in the carport area of the home at 2:15 am. A family of four and their neighbours had to be evacuated while this fire was contained.
There have now been five suspicious fires in Abbotsford in less than 48 hours. All five fires have started after midnight and all have been in a fairly small geographic area of central Abbotsford. Police are again encouraging anyone with information to come forward and for all citizens to report suspicious activity particularly in the area and timeframes outlined.
In the early morning hours of April 16, 2014 three suspicious fires were reported in the city of Abbotsford. The most significant from the standpoint of damage was to an abandoned residence in the 32000 block of Hillcrest Avenue. Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service worked hard to keep that fire contained after being called to the location at 3:00 am.
IMPG 5847 Adelaide St. IMPG 5852 Hillcrest abandoned house just about two blocks from previous Hillcrest fire. Photo by Lilly Kaetler
At 4:25 am Abbotsford Police and Fire Rescue were dispatched to a fire in the 32300 block of Marshall Road. A convenience store with residential suites contained in it occupies that property. Alert residents were able to call for help and began dousing the flames. There was some damage to the building but fortunately none of the eight persons who live at that location were injured.
A third fire was discovered during daylight hours at a financial institution in the 2500 block of Clearbrook Road. This fire did not create significant damage but is concerning nonetheless. Investigators have not determined that these fires are linked, but their proximity and the time frame in which they started is clearly troubling.
Currently the Abbotsford Police Department’s Major Crime Unit, Patrol Division, Crime Analysis Unit, Forensic Identification Unit, and Fire Investigators are investigating these incidents.
Anyone with information about these incidents should call the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or text 222973 (abbypd) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
