The man responsible for two large fires in Saanich has been sentenced to five years in jail.
Steven Pickering was found guilty of setting fire to the Saanich Home Depot in April 2016 and a townhouse complex under construction in the 4000 block of Cedar Hill Road on May 22 of last year. He has been in custody since his arrest last June.
“These two arsons were particularly troubling given the fact that so many people were put at significant risk.” said Det. Sgt. Bryan Rowan of the Saanich Police Detective Division. “We had a co-ordinated investigative team committed to solving these arsons and we’re pleased the evidence led us to the person responsible for them.”
The blaze at the townhouse complex resulted in the explosion of multiple propane tanks which shook the neighbourhood and led to the evacuation of several nearby residents. The heat from the fire was so intense that nearby homes were damaged and a fire truck was destroyed.