Image: Mission RCMP / Mission RCMP announced Monday, February 20 that six charges of arson have been laid against 25-year-old Mission resident Joseph Kraakman for his alleged role in starting fires in Heritage Park in Mission, a popular city park. It has been the target of several intentionally set fires since 2021.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Arson suspect charged

RCMP announce charges against 25-year-old Mission man for Heritage Park arsons

Feb 21, 2023 | 9:21 AM

MISSION — Mission RCMP announced Monday, February 20 that the B.C. Prosecution Service has approved six charges of arson against 25-year-old Mission man Joseph Kraakman for his alleged involvement in a series of intentionally-set fires in Heritage Park.

According to a news release from Constable Harrison Mohr, media relations spokesperson for the Mission RCMP detachment, Heritage Park in Mission is one of the city’s most popular parks, with areas of dense forest, numerous walking trails, and open areas where visitors can gather.

However, since July 2021, the park has been targeted in a series of intentionally set fires. Constable Mohr said Mission Fire Rescue Service was able to suppress most of the fires soon after they were set, however one fire in August 2021 reached 0.8 hectares in size. Helicopters from the B.C. Wildfire Service had to be called in to douse that fire from the air, and a residential neighbourhood was also evacuated as a precaution. After each fire, investigators from the Mission RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit and the BC Wildfire Service’s Provincial Fire Origin and Cause Unit attended to examine the scene and gather evidence, which eventually led to a suspect being identified.

On February 2, 2023, Mission RCMP arrested 25-year-old Mission resident Joseph Kraakman for arson. The B.C. Prosecution Service has now approved six counts of arson against Kraakman. He has since been released on conditions not to enter Heritage Park or possess any incendiary devices, and has an upcoming court date in Abbotsford Provincial Court.

“This was a long and challenging investigation, which has now led to a successful outcome,” said Inspector Ted Lewko, Officer in Charge of the Mission RCMP detachment. “Our thanks go out to our partners at the Mission Fire Rescue Service and the B.C. Wildfire Service for all their work on this over the past couple of years, and we would especially like to thank the community for reporting these fires and providing key details to our investigators.”

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Lisa Hudema, Wildfire Enforcement Superintendent with the B.C. Wildfire Service, echoed the amount of collaboration that bolstered the joint investigation. Heritage Park in Mission was identified as an area of interest due to several human-caused wildfires that were suspected to be incendiary in nature starting in July, 2021. Due to the close working relationship between the RCMP and the B.C. Wildfire Service, coupled with the serious nature of these fires, resources were quickly deployed to this priority investigation, Cst. Mohr said.

B.C. Wildfire Service Provincial Fire Origin and Cause investigators jointly investigated these fires with the Mission RCMP detachment. Once the BC Wildfire Service investigation reports are complete, the reports will be provided to the RCMP to support their investigation.

“The reports will not be released to the public until the RCMP’s investigation is complete,” Cst. Mohr pointed out. “I would like to thank the Mission Fire Rescue Service and the Mission RCMP Detachment for their partnership, and the public who reported these fires in a timely manner.”

Wildfires can be reported to BC Wildfire Service by calling 1-800-663-5555 or dialing *5555 from a cellphone.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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RCMP announce charges against 25-year-old Mission man for Heritage Park arsons

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