The Burnaby RCMP says an Alberta man has been charged with arson in connection with a fire at Burnaby Hospital.
The charges come after a six-year investigation involving police from multiple agencies in Alberta.
On Nov. 16, 2020, Mounties responded to reports of a fire at Burnaby Hospital that had taken place in the evening hours of Nov. 15.
A month later, the Burnaby RCMP said the fire was determined to be a deliberate act of arson. It shared a photo of a person of interest.
On the first anniversary of the incident, Nov. 15, 2021, police provided another update, along with a video of the same person, confirming that the person was a suspect.
In 2023, investigators identified a suspect who had moved to Alberta, police say.
“Over the next three years, Burnaby RCMP investigators collaborated with local and interprovincial agencies including Edmonton Police Service (EPS), Alberta RCMP, and Strathcona County RCMP to advance the investigation,” Mounties said.
Last week, 29-year-old Yu Yun Wang was charged with arson and disregard for human life.
“The outcome of this lengthy investigation is a testament to the dedication of the many officers involved in this file over the years,” said Burnaby RCMP Chief Supt. Bill Parmar.
“Our investigators were determined to find answers following this incident, which had a major impact on our local hospital and community at a time when our health care system was already coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Wang is in custody in Alberta on unrelated charges, the RCMP says.
