Investigators from the New Westminster police and fire departments continue to process evidence collected from the scene of the downtown fire that destroyed two buildings earlier this month.
While reports from other media outlets have suggested the fire was the result of arson, police spokesperson Sgt. Diana McDaniel dismissed these claims and said investigators still haven’t confirmed what caused the fire.
“They’re still trying to figure out the cause of the fire,” she stressed.
Until investigators have a cause, no charges will be recommended – and might never be if the cause doesn’t warrant them, she added.
Right now investigators are combing through evidence from the scene at McKenzie and Columbia streets. The Oct. 10 fire destroyed both the E.L. Lewis Block and Hamly Block, along with the many local businesses that set up shop in the two buildings.
McDaniel told The Record that investigators have some idea of how the fire started on Oct. 10 but said nothing would be made public until all the evidence has been processed.
