WESTLOCK - RCMP need the public’s help following a bizarre early-morning June 7 incident in Fawcett that saw an occupied mobile home destroyed by fire after being rammed by a stolen pickup truck.
Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Al Baird said that on Monday morning at around 4 a.m., they received a report that a Dodge pickup truck, previously stolen from Whitecourt, had run into the back of a trailer in the hamlet which caused it to burn.
The occupants of the trailer were uninjured, but the trailer and truck were heavily damaged by the blaze. Now, police are asking the public for help to locate the driver of the truck and Baird encourages anyone with info to contact them at 780-349-4492, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or online at www.P3Tips.com or via the P3Tips app.
“We’re still investigating. When we got there we saw vehicles leaving the area … but we don’t know if those were just people driving away,” said Baird June 9.
Westlock County protective service manager John Biro said the fire from the vehicle spread to the home’s vinyl/insulated siding and then into the roof truss area which caused significant damage.
“Once a fire spreads into an attic the outcome is never good. You can spray water and think it’s out, but the fire is still raging somewhere along the entire roof span till the roof collapses. Firefighters will not go onto a roof when fire is actively burning directly below,” said Biro, adding they were thankful the family was able to get out safely and avoid injury.
