Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Chilliwack RCMP are looking to identify a single suspect who was seen near Hing Lung, a Chinese restaurant at 8580 Young Road, before last week's fire in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 16. The suspect allegedly lit something near the gas meter of the building. Firefighters were dispatched at 3:30 a.m. that morning to extinguish the restaurant fire.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

RCMP eyeing suspect linked to fire

Chilliwack RCMP looking to ID single suspect involved in Hing Lung fire

May 24, 2023 | 9:17 AM

**Update at 3:28 p.m. Wednesday: Chilliwack RCMP have now identified the person of interest captured in the CCTV footage, RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk confirmed Wednesday afternoon. The investigation continues.**

Original story below:

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack RCMP are looking to locate a single suspect who allegedly lit something near a gas meter that eventually sparked a fire at a Chinese restaurant on Young Road in Chilliwack last week.

Approximately 30 firefighters and multiple fire engines from the Chilliwack Fire Department were dispatched in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 16 to Hing Lung at 8580 Young Road. On arrival, firefighters discovered a fire at the rear of the single-storey, multi-tenant commercial building that rapidly extended into the building’s roof structure. Once the fire was extinguished, large chunks of the building could be seen drooping from the front of the restaurant hours after the blaze.

The fire started sometime before 3:30 a.m., the time when firefighters were dispatched, when an individual appears to light something close to a gas meter in a small alcove near the multi-tenant commercial building. Approximately 15 minutes later, a fire flares up and nearly burns the lone suspect before the individual gets up to leave the scene. The individual may have been lighting up drugs.

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RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk, media relations spokesperson for the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment, says the investigation is ongoing.

“I can confirm that this matter remains under investigation by the Chillliwack RCMP who have seized CCTV surveillance as part of their investigation,” Sgt. Vrolyk said. “Investigators are working to identify the person captured in the footage.”

Assistant Fire Chief Chris Wilson said in a press release on Tuesday, May 16 that crews were significantly challenged by the natural gas service for the building, which was freely burning with flames encroaching into the building. Despite the associated challenges, Wilson said crews did an exceptional job in controlling the fire with the aid of multiple hose streams and firewalls within the building.

The fire was extinguished by 5:16 a.m., nearly two hours after firefighters were first dispatched. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported at the scene. As noted by Wilson in his press release, the fire is being investigated by Chilliwack Fire Department personnel and the RCMP.