Pubdate: Tue, 22 Sep 2009
Source: Lac La Biche Post (CN AB)
Copyright: 2009 Lac La Biche Post
Contact:  http://www.laclabichepost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4975
Author: Andre Delaire

BURNT DOWN HOMES BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DRUG HOUSES

Fire investigators are still looking into the cause of two late-night 
fires earlier this month that destroyed a pair of abandoned homes 
believed to have been drug houses.

The Lac La Biche fire chief and RCMP suspect arson in the two house 
fires, considering the homes went up in flames only three hours apart 
on Sept. 7. Police are further saying drug-related criminal activity 
was known to have taken place in both homes.

The first fire was reported around 9:30 p.m. to a home on 102 Avenue, 
only a block away from the fire hall.

The blaze caused significant damage to the kitchen area of a small 
home east of Fountain Tire, and took firefighters nearly three hours 
to extinguish. A few minutes after the fire was put out, the Lac La 
Biche Fire Department was dispatched to a second fire to an abandoned 
home on 101 Avenue.

Fire Chief Curtis Stuparyk said the second blaze caused more damage. 
By the time firefighting efforts had ended, the home was close to gutted.

The home is across the street from the burned down Flintstone's 
Family Restaurant. The popular Lac La Biche eatery was completely 
destroyed by arson last November after it was discovered someone had 
deliberately set the outside garbage bins at the rear of the 
restaurant on fire. RCMP have not made any arrests in connection with the fire.

The Lac La Biche Fire Department and RCMP are still waiting for the 
fire investigator's report into what caused this month's two house 
fires. Anyone with information on who may have started the two fires 
is asked to call the Lac La Biche RCMP at 780-623-4380 or Crime 
Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom