Vancouver police have determined arson was the cause of a blaze early Wednesday that heavily damaged a house being built on East First Avenue near Victoria Drive.
Const. Brian Montague, a VPD media liaison officer, said police are investigating whether the fire was set by an anti-gentrification anarchist group that claimed responsibility on the Anarchist News website.
Montague said investigators are trying to determine who the author is and whether the claims posted on the website are legitimate.
Its too early to confirm what the motive is and whether its linked to any individual person or group or cause, Montague told the Courier Thursday.
The Anarchist News websites post reads: Last night we burned down a yuppie development on 1st Avenue near Victoria. We are tired of seeing our lives and memories being torn down one development at a time. We wish and will create fear for developers in East Vancouver. The class war is heating up. We have no intention on stopping. If we, if you, allow this to continue you will be pushed out of East Vancouver due to rising rent and gentrification. If you are the cause of gentrification, you should never feel safe.
A portable toilet on the property was spraypainted in black with an anarchist symbol and graffiti that said: Well be back.
CTV News identified the property owner as Paul Dhaliwal, who told the television station that he didnt know of anyone in the neighbourhood unhappy with his development.
The Courier was at the scene around 2 a.m., shortly after the fire broke early Wednesday. Residents of nearby homes, which are built very close to each other, scrambled on to East First as firefighters battled the blaze.
The property once hosted an older home which was boarded up for some time. It was recently demolished and a new house was being constructed when it went up in flames.
There had been reports and concerns that people had been squatting there in the past, Montague said.
There are areas in the neighbourhood where other new homes are being constructed. But police are being cautious to say those construction sites could also be targeted.
Until we know why the fire was set for sure, it would be tough for us to start saying to individuals building homes in the neighbourhood that they should be concerned, said Montague, who described the arson as a dangerous, careless act that could have resulted in injury or death had the fire not been discovered.
The anti-gentrification movement in the city appears to be growing, with protests outside the Pidgin restaurant in the Downtown Eastside, theft of a sandwich board from Save-On-Meat and a Commercial Drive pizzeria having its windows smashed out several times.
mhowell@vancourier.com
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