Canada: Community garden in Victoria loses $10K in equipment in possible arson

“Everyone is really upset that this happened, they’re very surprised, very shocked. Just not really the news they wanted this long weekend,” said Sandy Robertson.

By Oli Herrera
CHEK News
Apr 11, 2023

Excerpt:

In early morning fire during the Easter long weekend has left a Victoria community garden out of thousands of dollars in equipment.

Victoria Fire personnel and police were called to Oswald Park for a structure fire just before 2 a.m. April 8. There, authorities found that the Oaklands Community Garden’s shed was completely engulfed.

“The heat and flame had spread to some adjacent items such as raised garden beds [and] wheelbarrows,” said Deputy Chief Chris Royle of Victoria Fire Department.

Crews were on the scene for over an hour until it was under control. VicPD says they’re treating it as the fire was intentionally set.

“It is in the early stages of investigation but is being treated as an arson at this time,” said VicPD spokesperson Const. Terri Healy in an emailed statement to CHEK News.

The executive director for the Oaklands Community Association says benches and some composters were also damaged, estimating the damages at over $10,000.

Read the complete article here.