A 24-year-old man is facing 18 counts of arson, possession of methamphetamine, and several other charges.

The Winnipeg Police Service says that while investigating a series of suspicious fires that took place in the middle of May, they discovered a suspect that they believe is responsible for 14 fires in Winnipeg over the course of May 16-18.

"A serial arsonist over a short period of time is rare," Constable Robb Carver says. "This was a massive drain on resources."

Constable Carver believes that methamphetamine was an underlying cause of the fires.

The suspect is believed to have been involved in the following fires:

  • May 16, 400 block of Aulneau Street
  • May 16, St. Boniface Hospital
  • May 17, 500 block of Leila Avenue
  • May 17, 2400 block of Main Street
  • May 18, 1st hundred block of Litz Place
  • May 18, 500 block of Munroe Avenue
  • May 18, 1600 block of Main Street
  • May 18, 300 block of Poplar Avenue
  • May 18, 300 block of Seven Oaks Avenue
  • May 18, 1st hundred block of Hanna Street
  • May 18, 400 block of Southhall Drive
  • May 18, 1700 block of Main Street
  • May 18, 500 block of Selkirk Avenue
  • May 18, 500 block of Pritchard Avenue

"It looked like he was driving around and whatever caught his attention is where the fire was started," Carver says. 

Police believe there were no injuries due to the fires, but three of the arsons were started with people inside of structures that were ignited. 

The suspect, a 24-year-old man, is being charged with:

  • Three counts of Arson – Disregard for Human Life
  • 18 counts of Arson – Damage to Property
  • 14 counts of Possession of Incendiary Material
  • Possession of Incendiary Device
  • Possess Weapon
  • Possess Methamphetamine

Police say they have had contact with the man before, but it was not criminally related.

The man was detained in custody.  

The Winnipeg Police Service says they will not disclose the reasons given to police for the events. The WPS shares that they are not in a position to give a damage estimate, but adds that at St. Boniface Hospital, there was close to $500,000 worth of damages.