Surrey police release arson suspect after fire department rules strip-mall fire not suspicious​on March 24, 2025 at 2:46 pm

A man is under arrest after a suspicious overnight fire damaged at least one business in a Surrey City Centre strip mall.

Two police officers were on patrol around 2:30 a.m. when they noticed smoke and a burning smell coming from the mall on the southwest corner of 108th Avenue and City Parkway.

“As officers stopped to investigate the source of the smoke, they located a man leaving a business and arrested him,” said Surrey Police Service Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton.

Battalion chief Marc Fournier of the Surrey Fire Service said eight fire vehicles, including two ladder trucks, worked on the blaze.

The suspect is in custody while police investigate.

Crews were still on scene around 7 a.m. mopping up and watching for hot spots.

No one was injured.

There were road closures overnight and police said there might be more throughout the morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call 604-599-0502 or make an anonymous report at Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477 or solvecrime.ca.

jruttle@postmedia.com