Vancouver Rundown Friday October 6, 2023

Several suspicious fires have Mission residents evacuated, three years after an arson, kidnapping and murder on one of the same properties

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Late Thursday, RCMP continued to hunt for a suspected arsonist after several structures went up in flames on Gunn Avenue in the Silverdale area of Mission. It all started with a massive blaze at a structure at 30819 Gunn Ave. Wednesday evening that neighbours say had been abandoned since a 2020 arson involving the murder of Vien Ngoc Bui and the escape of three others who had their hands bound. Van Chau Nguyen pleaded guilty to second degree murder and assault with a weapon in that 2020 drug connected case - he did not plead guilty to arson, forcible confinement or uttering threats.

Both ends or Gunn Avenue in the Silverdale area of Mission remained closed late Thursday afternoon while fire fighters put out a series of structure fires and RCMP look for a possible arsonist. PHOTO Bruce Claggett

Fire crews and heavily armed officers returned to the same stretch of road Thursday as at least two more fires - set hours apart - prompted the manhunt for at least one suspect. One frustrated neighbour told Vancouver Rundown RCMP failed to adequately communicate with them despite ERT members being called-in as a suspect continued to set buildings on fire. Residents were not allowed to return to their homes.

In a social media post Thursday afternoon, Mission RCMP said:

The Gunn Ave fire incident is still an active/ongoing situation, and people are reminded to stay out of the area. There is no indication of any risk to the public outside the immediate area being contained.

Those living in the area say there was a dispute in recent days involving a possible eviction of a person living on a property without permission. That has not been confirmed and RCMP have not commented on any motivation or connection to the 2020 arson and murder.

Fire crews continued to respond ‘Code 3’ to the latest in a series of suspicious building fires on Gunn Avenue in Mission late Thursday afternoon. PHOTO: Bruce Claggett

As late as 4:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon, black smoke could be spotted from as far away as Haney, Langley and Abbotsford coming from one of the fires on Gunn. At several points, Maple Ridge Fire and Rescue assisted crews in Mission by dispatching water tenders. An ambulance had been standing by but there is still no word on anyone being injured.

Other news…

Breaking news…a motorcyclist has been killed in a collision with a car on Hall Road near King George Boulevard at around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Investigators are trying to figure out the circumstances leading up to the crash. The car’s driver remained at the scene.